Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of fees collected for the junior certificate examination and the leaving certificate examination for each of the years 2002 to 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33429/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Generally speaking, examination fees are increased each year in line with the consumer price index. 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. I should point out that the income received from examination fees each year amount to only a fraction of the total cost to the taxpayer of running the examinations.

The Deputy may be aware that medical card holders, or candidates whose parents or guardians hold a current medical card, are exempt from payment of examination fees. It is estimated that approximately 30% of all examination candidates benefit under this scheme annually. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Junior Certificate

2002: €2,960,301

2003: €3,062,772

2004: €3,363,147

2005: €3,589,773

2006: €3,726,812

Leaving Certificate

2002: €3,628,637

2003: €3,813,522

2004: €4,244,184

2005: €4,342,536

2006: €4,046,679