Ms Hilary Harmon:

I do not technically have an issue with a minimum level, but I would still be concerned that people would see it as a target. In other words, when they reached the 10% they would use that fact as a way out of enrolling children from disadvantaged communities, the Traveller community, etc.

We have had experience with the disciplinary card system in the Traveller community. We are of the view that the Bill is slightly weak in the context of transferring children mid-term and with regard to expulsion. We frequently find that children with perceived behavioural problems face quite an amount of discrimination if they transfer mid-term or if they are expelled.

It is my understanding that from May or June of next year all school principals will be obliged to complete extended report cards in respect of all sixth class students. When a student is accepted into a secondary school, the latter will contact his or her primary school and request his or her sixth class report card. What should happen is that we should reach a position where primary school principals will have transferred all of these extended report cards to their counterparts in post-primary schools. If, at the end of this process, a school still has five report cards left, it is obvious that there is an issue. The matter will either have to be taken up with the children's parents or, ideally, it will be flagged with the National Education and Welfare Board. Our experience has been that the later matters of this nature are flagged with the board, the more problematic it becomes to secure a place for a child.

Deputy Tuffy referred to the first-come-first-served approach. This is problematic for Traveller parents. That is why - as our submission indicates - we are seeking standardisation of deadlines across all schools. The deadline for enrolment in two primary schools ten miles apart can vary quite substantially. The Irish system is incredibly confusing, not for just for members of the Traveller community but also for anyone who is new to it. This is particularly the case if families are not embedded in their communities per se. Such families will not have the relevant knowledge and in many instances the necessary information is communicated through the Catholic church, at mass or whatever. The latter is a problem for those who do not participate in religious ceremonies, etc. The standardisation of deadlines would increase awareness and improve people's capacity to be organised in the context of enrolment processes.

The final point relates to the appeals system. I am of the view that it must be known by another name. As Mr. Whyte indicated, the one good thing about the section 29 provision is that it is very transparent. It could, however, be made considerably more user-friendly for parents. A transparent and open system must be put in place in order to instil confidence among parents.