British firm wins contract to print state exam papers

THE State Examinations Commission has awarded a lucrative contract for the printing of the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations to a British company.

In a move that has been described as “a scandal” by Fine Gael, the deal, estimated to be worth in excess of €200,000 by industry sources, has been awarded to Stephen Austin and Sons printers in Hertford, England.

It now means no Irish company has been given the contract to print either of the two main state exams here since 2003.