Ms Andrea Feeney:

It is more that. When their work is marked, because they have a spelling and grammar waiver, any mistakes the student makes with spelling, punctuation and certain elements of grammar are discounted. They are seen by the marker but are not counted against the student. The result that they get is effectively marked out of 90 and then scaled up to 100 to give them the benefit of the spelling and grammar waiver. Maybe what the Cathaoirleach is alluding to is in subjects that involve more than one component.