Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The approach to the Bill is to provide for the option of regulating where it is necessary and proportionate. This is in line with the principle of subsidiarity whereby decision-making is with the board and patron as far as possible. A fundamental feature of our school system is that the governance and management of a school is within the control of the board of management. As a general approach, this Bill seeks to maintain and support this position and to only interfere with the board’s authority to determine and manage the admission of pupils to its school where this is necessary. While regulations will undoubtedly be put in place for some aspects of admission and over time the aspects that require regulation may change, it is not necessarily the case that the Minister should regulate on all matters set out in this section. I am also cognisant of the need to ensure that regulations would not make the admission process overly complex or burdensome for either parents or schools. It is important to note that this section requires the Minister to consult with the various stakeholders specified before regulating. If the Minister was required to regulate in the manner suggested, then he or she may not be in a position to properly respond to the views expressed through that consultation particularly where there is a clear consensus that a particular aspect of admission does not require any regulatory intervention. Accordingly, it is preferable that this section gives the Minister flexibility to regulate when and where it is necessary to do so and on those specific matters or issues on which regulation is at any given time required. This is the more appropriate approach.