€11m tax to be paid on exam staffing expenses

A tax settlement of almost €11m is expected to be made by the State Examinations Commission next year as a result of an audit of expenses paid to contract staff.

The Revenue Commissioners audit is still ongoing but it is understood that it relates to differences in interpretation of how payments to certain categories of staff engaged by the SEC for running the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams should be treated.

The anticipated settlement is behind an increased provision in the Department of Education budget to the SEC in 2015.