John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 921: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the structure and amount of fees payable by students who wish to complete the preliminary leaving certificate examinations and the leaving certificate examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15076/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The 2007 examination fee for Leaving Certificate candidates is €96. The fee for school-based repeat Leaving Certificate candidates is €251. Examination fees generally cover only a fraction of the cost of running the examinations. The costs associated with the certificate examinations have been spiralling in recent years due to the introduction of new methods of assessment in various subjects and to continuing increases in special arrangements for students with special needs.

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.

There is an alleviation scheme in place whereby current medical card holders and their dependants 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.

Mock examinations are not part of the State examinations system, and therefore my Department has no function in respect of the fees that are charged for these examinations.