Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Clare is entitled to a pension as an advisory examiner for the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28502/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person named by the Deputy is not entitled to pensionability on the basis of her work as an advising examiner. Examiners, including advising examiners, are engaged by the State Examinations Commission to provide their professional services to the Commission under a contract for services. They are paid on a fee basis, are not in an employer/employee relationship with the Commission and are therefore not eligible for admission to the superannuation schemes operated by the Commission.

I should add that the work of the examiners is carried out over a very short period each year, usually during school holidays, and that, as teachers, retired examiners receive pensions in respect of their teaching service.