Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 354 of 6 April 2006, if he will investigate the situation in relation to the exam taken on the 10 September 2005 by Prison Officers for promotion; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that problems in relation to some of the exam papers from the morning session were brought to the attention of the invigilators; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that incorrect booklets were given out to the participants on the morning and that there were complaints during the examination that the papers were not running in sequence; if he has received written complaints by some of the candidates; if arrangements will be put in place to allow these candidates to re-sit their exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the exam on 10 December by Prison Officers for promotion. Further to my reply of 6 April, I have been informed that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) has received a number of queries in relation to this competition, almost all of which have been replied to at this stage. As regards issues raised in relation to the exam papers in the morning, I am informed that these were addressed at the time on being brought to the attention of the invigilators.

On the question of the issue of incorrect booklets to candidates, I understand this oversight was noticed immediately and the correct test booklet was provided without delay in addition to full instructions for the test. Furthermore, I am assured that the papers issued to candidates were clearly headed with clear descriptions as to how they should be used and checks were made by the invigilators to ensure candidates were made aware of the correct page sequences immediately the issue was raised. In all the circumstances, the IPS is satisfied that it should proceed to conclude this competition without delay once the final interviews currently under way have been completed.