Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason bonus marks for the production of pre-submitted research projects for the leaving certificate history course when done through Irish are not being awarded in the same manner as the bonus marks awarded for completing the rest of the examination in Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15277/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason teachers and pupils have not been informed of a decision taken by her Department to withdraw the bonus marks for submitting pre-submitted research projects in the new leaving certificate history course through Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15278/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.

Currently, leaving certificate history is examined by means of a terminal written examination, which takes place under examination hall conditions. Candidates answering through Irish are eligible for the award of bonus marks in accordance with rule 29 of the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools. In 2006 and subsequent years, the leaving certificate history examination will comprise a written examination conducted under examination hall conditions and a research study report completed by candidates in advance of their sitting the written examination under examination hall conditions.

In keeping with all other examinations that involve a component completed outside of the formal supervised written examination, bonus marks will not be awarded in the case of research study reports written in Irish. However, bonus marks will be awarded in the normal way in the case of the component conducted under examination hall conditions.

On foot of a Government decision of 6 March 2003, the State Examinations Commission has been established with statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the national certificate examinations.