Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 20 and 90 together.

Since 8 April 2003 the State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The statistical issues raised by the Deputies have been forwarded to the commission for direct reply.

The commission operates a scheme of reasonable accommodations for candidates with special needs at the certificate examinations. The range of accommodations available to candidates includes the use of readers, scribes, tape-recorders, braille, computers-word processors, helpers and extra time, in addition to decisions at school level regarding rest periods, and use of low vision aids, special desks or chairs. It is also open to special needs students to apply to have a part of an examination waived and to be marked out of 100% on the balance.

Details of the scheme are outlined on the commission's website at www.examinations.ie. Application may be made through the school or VTOS centre or directly to the State Examinations Commission for external candidates.

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