Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Burke and thank him for agreeing to take on this role. His background and career will certainly stand him in good stead. He will be able to bring his experience to the scope of the State Examinations Commission's activities and I wish him well in his new role. As he outlined, the State Examinations Commission has a daunting logistical task on its hands every year. It carries out that role well. As Mr. Burke pointed out, its transparent and honest approach is absolutely crucial to the confidence the public and students certainly have in the examinations system. Some of the changes made in recent years - Mr. Burke reflected on the ability of students to see and review their examination papers - have contributed greatly to this.

I apologise because I will have to leave early. Before I do, I will mention a couple of issues that I would like Mr. Burke to look at and take on in his new role.

I ask the State Examinations Commission to review the use of retired teachers as examiners. It is an issue that arises every year. Perhaps Mr. Burke might seek to assess it when he takes on his new role. Younger teachers who are in part-time and temporary employment should be prioritised when these posts are being filled in order that they can supplement their wages and develop their careers. They need financial support to encourage them to develop their careers. That is why younger teachers should be allowed to act as examiners and correct examination papers, where possible.

I also raise with Mr. Burke the issue of special accommodation for examination students. I know that he has worked with the special needs section in dealing with this issue. According to recent figures, the State Examinations Commission received 2,495 applications for special accommodation for students in 2012. I refer to the provision of readers or other forms of assistance to help students in their leaving certificate examinations. I understand that at junior certificate level decisions on accommodation are made within each school, whereas the State Examinations Commission is responsible for the provision of accommodation at leaving certificate level. The number of applications increased from almost 2,500 in 2012 to 2,669 in 2014, but the number of refusals increased from 669 to 894. Given that there was a significant increase of 37% in the number of refusals, I ask Mr. Burke to review the matter when he takes up his new role in order that students will have the accommodation they require.

I wish Mr. Burke well and look forward to seeing him serve on the State Examinations Commission successfully in the next five years.