Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether lower standards for the leaving certificate and junior certificate examinations have led to grade inflation over the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32960/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The increase in the numbers of candidates achieving high grades in the more recent examinations can be attributed to a number of factors. In particular, teaching which is focused on the requirements of the examinations programme, access by students and teachers to all elements of the examination programme including past examination papers, the facility to view examination scripts, marking schemes and Chief Examiners reports, and well resourced and researched text books. Likewise, the significant increase in professional development provision for teachers since 1994 can be regarded as having a positive impact on examination achievement.

Throughout the period 1989 to date, a number of syllabi were revised on the advice of the NCCA. Individual subject course committees have seen syllabus change as an opportunity to make syllabus content and examinations more student friendly and more accessible. Accordingly, when syllabi change, statistical comparison with earlier figures becomes difficult. Today's examination candidates are better prepared, better supported and better resourced than ever before. Students and teachers prepare for the examinations in order to achieve the maximum results.