Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is currently sitting the leaving certificate examination and is severely disadvantaged for authorised support for reader and scribe aid, as a valid application for same was refused and subsequently refused on appeal, despite the fact that an independent assessment by a reputable and qualified agency that was submitted to the appeals board recommended a need for these supports and the case was finally appealed to the Ombudsman for Children, who, unfortunately, because of the Minister's Department's guidelines could not carry out its function due to non-discretion to overturn the decision, but the ombudsman did advise the State Examinations Commission that cognisance should be taken of this student's dyslexia, which inhibits this student's ability for self-expression in a justifiable manner in the examination process; if she will intercede and make the necessary allowance which the ombudsman recognised was necessary and which the Ombudsman conveyed to the State Examinations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22816/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of concerns raised by students following the ordinary level leaving certificate mathematics paper 1 examination this year in relation to elements of the higher level paper being incorporated into this; if there is a strategy of making ordinary level mathematics papers more difficult in order to push students into doing the higher level papers; and her plans to address this with the State Examinations Commission. [22837/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am aware that concerns have been raised by students about the content of the ordinary level Leaving Certificate Mathematics paper 1. I have asked the State Examinations Commission to bring these concerns to the attention of the Chief Examiner for the examination. Commentary and correspondence on the examination from teachers, professional bodies and other interested parties is considered by the Chief Examiner in developing the draft marking scheme.

The State Examinations Commission has assured me that, as is normal practice, prior to finalising the marking scheme, it will apply the draft marking scheme to a random sample of scripts so as to test the effectiveness of the examination paper and the scheme in setting and maintaining standards year on year. The outcomes of the random sampling will be analysed and if the outcomes indicate that the paper and/or the marking scheme is too hard or too easy the marking scheme will be adjusted to take account of this. This will ensure consistency in the marking of the examination and fairness to all candidates.

I can assure the Deputy that there is no intention to set an examination paper which is not suitable to the curriculum which ordinary level students have studied. The paper is devised specifically for the needs of ordinary level students and reflects the ordinary level curriculum.