David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will implement the recommendation of the Equality Tribunal in early 2007 in respect of appending footnotes to leaving certificate transcripts of students with disabilities who have been granted an accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22143/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has shown an unrivalled commitment to ensuring that children and young people with special needs get the extra support they need in order to reach their full potential at school. We have dramatically expanded investment in special education in recent years and we have improved access to the state examinations for young people with special needs.

Annotations on certificates only apply in situations where a core area of a subject is not assessed, or where the mode of assessment used has the same effect. This is used to ensure fairness and integrity vis a vis other students who have been assessed in these components, and in order not to mislead the end user of the certificate. The scheme was introduced following the report of an Expert Advisory Group, and the introduction enabled opportunities to be provided for exemptions where a candidate was not in a position to demonstrate achievement in a core area of assessment.

The findings of the Equality Tribunal on the issue have been appealed to the Circuit Court and a judgement is expected shortly.

I have also asked the State Examinations Commission to re-examine policy and practice in this area. It is important that our system continues to evolve in line with best practice, promoting high standards of quality and integrity while ensuring access, participation and benefit for all our students. I do not anticipate that changes will be made to practice in this area in advance of the outcome of the review and the findings in regard to the appeal.