Written answers
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Department of Education and Skills
State Examinations
Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that did not sit the State examinations in 2012 due to mental health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35005/14]
Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that did not sit the State examinations in 2013 due to mental health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35006/14]
Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that did not sit the State examinations in 2014 due to mental health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35007/14]
Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures that are in place for a student with mental health difficulties to take State exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35008/14]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 223, inclusive, together.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations (RACE scheme) designed to assist candidates with special needs at the certificate examinations. Within the context of the RACE scheme the term 'special need' applies to candidates who have a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a specific learning difficulty.
Reasonable accommodations are intended:
(a) to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment; andExamination candidates with mental health difficulties, including emotional or behavioural issues, may be accommodated within the scheme. In the main the accommodation sought for candidates with mental health difficulties is access to a special centre or the granting of rest breaks during the examination session. Each year, arrangements are also made to cater for emergencies during the period of the written examinations. These include alterations to the standard timetable and special sittings in venues such as hospitals.
(b) to ensure that, whilst giving candidates every opportunity to demonstrate their level of attainment, the special arrangements will not give the candidate an unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination.
Detailed information about the RACE scheme, including how to apply, is provided annually to all schools and further detailed information about the scheme is available from the SEC's website www.examinations.ie.
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