Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost of registering to repeat the leaving certificate in 2004 and 2005; her views on a waiver scheme for those for whom the cost of repeating causes financial difficulty; the reason it is significantly more expensive to repeat the exam than to take it for the first time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23590/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The examination fee for school-based repeat Leaving Certificate candidates was €225 in 2004 and €236 in 2005. Special fees for repeat candidates were introduced in 1987 on the basis that it is not unreasonable to expect those who have already benefitted from the normal course of second level education, and who wish to take an extra year, to make a contribution towards the cost of providing the necessary resources. A course fee is also payable in respect of such candidates.

Generally, examination fees cover only a fraction of the cost of running the examinations, and these costs have been spiralling in recent years as new methods of assessment are introduced in various subjects. There is an alleviation scheme in place whereby current medical card holders and their dependents are exempt from the payment of fees. This exemption applies to approximately 30% of all examination candidates each year. This alleviation scheme also applies in the case of repeat candidates in respect of both the course fee and the repeat examination fee.