Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware that the leaving and junior certificate examinations are taking place. We are also aware that there have been shortcomings in examination papers, as widely reported in the media. These shortcomings relate not only to the leaving certificate higher level maths paper but also to the junior certificate civics, social and political education paper. While we will all be concerned about this as citizens, the greatest effect is felt by the pupils and their parents who find themselves facing uncertainty about the errors in the examination papers. The State Examinations Commission has a good run-in period of 12 months to organise the examinations. There is something amiss about the fact that it has not been able to carry out a simple task within this period and produce examination papers which are accurate and guard against the mistakes we have seen. I have no confidence in it, not only on foot of the issues I have cited but other matters also. The Department should consider sacking the commission or undertaking a very strong review of its ability to carry out the functions with which it has been entrusted.

There has been some talk about the commission having the papers printed in another jurisdiction. I do not have a great problem with this as other member states do the same. There are very good reasons for having examination papers printed in another jurisdiction. However, I have an issue with the fact that while the commission has the papers printed at a cost to the taxpayer of €500,000, within days of the end of the examinations, private companies obtain, publish and sell them without paying any fee. Last year they made €3 million. I raised this issue two or three weeks ago.

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