Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the legal implications of leaving certificate result re-checks when a college course has already started; the obligation that is placed on her Department, the State Examinations Commission or the individual institutions to reserve places for potential upgrade students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29857/05]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if instructions will be given to the State Examinations Commission to bring forward the publication and notification of re-checks of leaving certificate students to allow those students whose results are increased to avail of college places in the upcoming academic year instead of having to wait until next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29858/05]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29860/05]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29861/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 177, 179 and 180 together.

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including determining procedure to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates. Notwithstanding this, I have had inquiries made with the State Examinations Commission and have been advised that the results of the leaving certificate, which issue from the commission in August of each year, are provisional only. This is clearly stated in correspondence.

The objective of the State Examinations Commission is to ensure that the processing of results is as free from error as possible. The leaving certificate examinations cover 375,000 grades to 57,000 candidates involving 3000 examiners. Recognising the inevitable problems that can arise in a system of this size, a transparent, easily accessible and effective appeals process is available to all candidates who are unhappy with their results.

The appeals process involves candidates viewing their scripts to see how marking schemes were applied, and this was completed in 2005 on 2 and 3 September. The closing date for receipt of appeal applications was 7 September. The results of the appeals — some 11,500 in all — issued on 12 October, some five weeks later, during which time the physical re-marking of the appeal scripts took place. During this limited timeframe, examination scripts had to be retrieved from schools, distributed to examiners, fully re-marked by appeal examiners, monitored in at least 20% of cases by appeal advisers and returned to the State Examinations Commission for results processing.

It is acknowledged in examination systems all over the world that some level of error may occur. It is for that reason that national examination systems must have effective appeal processes. The Irish system is a world leader in terms of giving candidates an opportunity to view their scripts before deciding whether or not to appeal. Another comparable strength of the appeal system is that a full re-marking — as distinct from a check of mark addition — takes place. On balance it is considered that it is better to have a comprehensive, quality appeal system that takes some time to execute rather than to prejudice quality by a less comprehensive, speedier process.

Offers of third level places are made by the CAO on the basis of the provisional results issued in August. There are good reasons why it does this because to delay the offering of places until the appeals process is completed would impact upon the start date for the academic year and thus disadvantage the overwhelming majority of candidates whose provisional results are their final results. The State Examinations Commission makes every effort to process the results of appeals as quickly as possible to facilitate the college entry process balanced with the need to allow the appeal examiners sufficient time to carry out a thorough re-marking of candidates' work.

With regard to the particular cases referred to by the Deputy, the admissions office of UCD has confirmed that the courses to which both candidates sought admission are fully subscribed for 2005-06. However, I understand that UCD is currently exploring ways in which a number of candidates who have had leaving certificate upgrades can begin their studies in the current academic year. UCD has, however, confirmed the offer of a guaranteed place to both candidates for 2006-07.

The question of the granting of academic credit in respect of a course of study undertaken overseas in the current academic year by one of the candidates should be pursued directly with UCD, providing details of course content covered in the first year of the programme, so that a decision on credit can be made.