John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 844: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the circumstances outlined in correspondence (details supplied); if she will intervene and have a favourable decision made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14467/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Coláiste Mhuire, Marino were contracted by my Department to provide the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (SCG) examination in 2006, 2007 and 2008 on the basis of holding a main examination each year followed by a repeat examination. Changes to the prose and poetry syllabus of the SCG came into effect for the 2006/07 academic year and these changes were examinable for the first time at the Easter, 2007 SCG examination. These changes were implemented on foot of a recommendation by the SCG Review Body, which was set up by the then Minister for Education, and which reported in February, 2004.

Advance notification of the changes was communicated to prospective SCG candidates. Documentation, which included a cover letter, a brochure and an advertisement, was issued to every primary school in the country during the first week of September, 2006. The brochure alerted readers to the new literature programme in prose and poetry.

In order to assist prospective candidates, a new prose and poetry programme entitled Leoithne Ghaoithe was published by my Department's Inspectorate in 2006. In addition, a new SCG course content book entitled Cóir Ghaoithe, which contains comprehensive notes and information on each of the 10 specific poems and each of the 6 prose passages on the new prose and poetry syllabus, was published by Marino Institute of Education in September, 2006.

SCG courses began at Education Centres throughout the country in late September/early October, 2006. Courses are given by tutors who had attended training at Coláiste Mhuire, Marino during September, 2006. The tutors received specific training, guidance and instruction in regard to the new prose and poetry syllabus and courses at Education Centres nationwide reflected these changes.

I do not propose to make any intervention in this case. To do so would compromise the integrity of an examination system which operates with a considerable degree of autonomy. In my view, the replacement of elements of the poetry and prose syllabus should not jeopardise any candidate's chances of passing the examination, if they were already studying the prose and poetry on the previous syllabus. Any course in literature will require study of literary devices, knowledge and concepts that apply to prose and poetry generally, regardless of the individual poems or passages of prose on the syllabus. There would be considerable transfer of knowledge, therefore, to the study of the revised syllabus.

The process in place for SCG examinations is open and transparent. Candidates may review their scripts and the mark they received and discuss them with the course tutors. Candidates may appeal the marks they received for any aspect of the examination.