Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of unemployed persons who have been given an opportunity to work by the State Examinations Commission in relation to the upcoming State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23928/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The State Examinations Commission has operational responsibility for the operation of the certificate examinations. Each year the SEC employs additional staff to deal with the peak demands of the system. These include temporary clerical officers, temporary porters, examination superintendents and examiners. The SEC will employ up to 75 temporary clerical officers and 17 temporary porters this year. All appointees to date and all those yet to be appointed have been and will be drawn from the register of unemployed persons maintained by the Department of Social Protection. Examination superintendents are drawn from a pool of experienced teachers. The SEC will appoint superintendents to 4,692 centres this year. It is a long standing policy that unemployed and substitute teachers are recruited first, before drawing on the wider pool of applicants. A total of 213 unemployed teachers and 574 substitute teachers have been appointed to date, and the process is ongoing. Appointments are made by the SEC on a county basis. Surplus applicants in one county are drawn on in a neighbouring county where vacancies occur. In addition, schools appoint some 7,500 superintendents directly to work in centres catering for students with special needs. The profile of these appointees is not held by the SEC. Examiners are recruited to mark candidates' scripts, oral and practical tests, and are recruited on the basis of their academic qualifications, examination and teaching experience. They are mainly drawn from the pool of practising teachers. Some 6,000 examiners will be employed in 2010. To date 190 unemployed teachers have been engaged by SEC for this purpose.

In the recruitment of temporary staff, the State Examinations Commission is committed to giving priority to unemployed persons to the maximum extent commensurate with ensuring appropriate expertise and quality in the operation of the examination system.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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How can the Tánaiste say that when the information she gave to the House is to the contrary? Basically, she informed the House that of the 12,000 appointments as superintendents for the State examinations starting next week, 800 are unemployed or substitute teachers, or approximately 7%. This is at a time where there are almost 440,000 people unemployed in this country. Does the Tánaiste accept the information she has received from the State Examinations Commission? Will she inform the House how many retired teachers are employed by the SEC either as superintendents or for the purpose of correcting those papers?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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First, I correct the Deputy. The live register figures he reiterated are not a reflection of the number of unemployed people in this country. That has been a misnomer in the House for many years.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is a pretty good indicator.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I would not stand over the figure if I were the Minister.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As a former Minister for Social Welfare, I know the facts. There is a household survey that indicates the numbers unemployed.

On the issue of the appointment of superintendents and staff the most important point is to ensure that the young people who are sitting their junior and leaving certificate exams-----

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Applied, also.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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-----are supported and that we have the highest quality possible in support of their examinations. That is the most important thing to do and we will continue to do it within the State examinations.

I indicated in my reply that the SEC is very cognisant of the need and commitment to support people who are unemployed. That is why the support staff will be, in the main, those from the unemployed register. It will continue to make further appointments for substitute or unemployed teachers. I do not have the numbers to hand of those who are retired. We want to ensure that people with the relevant capacity to supervise the examinations, who have the experience to assure the candidates of the highest quality. I do not have the numbers or know even whether they are available but I can revert to the Deputy.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I would be grateful if the Tánaiste would find out the number of retired teachers who are obtaining a pension from the State and working in the State examinations from next week. I would like that information. We all need it. We all have a responsibility. When we allow 12,000 people be employed by the State for two, three or four weeks in June we have a duty and a moral obligation to ensure those jobs are ring-fenced for unemployed people.

The Tánaiste referred in her response to the question of suitability. Does she suggest that a young unemployed solicitor, accountant or-----

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Teacher.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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-----teacher or architect is in some way unsuitable to supervise and be a superintendent for the purpose of these State examinations? Is this not a form of restrictive practice on the part of the SEC, supported by the Department of Education and Skills? There are many unemployed people who would love the opportunity to work for the month of June. They would love the opportunity to work for June but the Department, through the State Examination Commission, SEC, is not providing that opportunity to them.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I saw the Deputy's press release and I would be seriously concerned if we did not set out standards at which people are appointed as superintendents.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Superintendents.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. There must be a certain standard.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Is that like the standard last year when the exam paper got out?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Tánaiste to proceed without interruption.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am disappointed, Deputy. Everybody in the House is cognisant of the examinations and we want to ensure the people who have relevant experience and who have the capacity and ability to supervise our exams are of the highest standard.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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That is not the issue.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The State Examination Commission is independent of me and my Department.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Nonsense.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not nonsense. It is important to reiterate that where possible, unemployed substitute teachers will be appointed. There are those in employment currently who will be appointed as the State Examination Commission cannot make differentiations. It must allow people to apply whether they are employed or unemployed.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister telling the House that unemployed people in other professions would be unable to be superintendents for State exams?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There is some repetition of the previous question.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I would like clarification in that respect.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not telling the House anything. I have said what I had to say and I am not indicating one way or the other.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is sitting on the fence.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are cognisant of the need to support people who are unemployed but equally cognisant of the absolute necessity to ensure the calibre of people to be appointed as superintendents. The criteria set down for those appointments are a matter for the SEC.