Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference of the review of the reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations, RACE, scheme; the consultation process with stakeholders; when the review will be concluded; if he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14560/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

The SEC operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE scheme). The RACE scheme enables access to the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations by students with special needs which include specific learning difficulties and permanent or temporary physical, medical or behavioural conditions or other conditions. Reasonable accommodations are intended to: (a) remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate their attainment and (b) ensure that special arrangements do not confer any unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination.

I am advised by the SEC that a review of the operation of RACE is being undertaken at the request of their Board. This ongoing operational review is focussing in the first instance on:

- the nature and timing of decision making regarding applications for reasonable accommodations

- the provision of comprehensive information about access arrangements to applicants and their parents

- making better use of assistive technology to enable candidates to access the examinations while at the same time enhancing integrity and reducing the administrative and logistical demands on schools

I am further advised that a programme of consultation with stakeholders is planned by the SEC for over the summer.