Ms Áine Lynch:

The National Parents Council Primary, NPC, welcomes the opportunity to submit its views to the joint committee. At the core of all the work of the NPC primary and especially its advocacy and representation role is its vision statement, which states that the NPC wants to see an Ireland where every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. This vision statement speaks to equality and equity and lies at the heart of the discussion regarding the Education (Admissions to School) Bill 2020. Although it could be argued the current provision that allows schools to include admission criteria regarding family members having previously attended the school is implemented rarely, we must look to our legislation to set the tone for what we value in society. It could also be argued that the legislation sets the tone to the effect that your history can define your future.

In recent years we have seen a dramatic change in communities, increased new housing developments, diversity in our populations and an increase in population mobility, all of which mean that our children are growing up in vastly different local communities from those in which their parents and grandparents grew up. Any legislation that allows for possible discrimination within communities must be amended. At the core of these communities are our schools and what happens within a school shapes the communities around them. Who gets and does not access to a school something to the community around it. Ensuring that a school’s admission policy provides and is seen to provide equity of access for local children to their local school must be a priority.

The paramount right of parental choice regarding education is enshrined in our Constitution and is an important right for parents. When oversubscription occurs in an individual school, however, that choice cannot always be accommodated. It is the NPC’s view that in choosing which parents' choice is accommodated and which choice is not, the school board of management’s decision must be underpinned by fairness and equity. I thank the committee again for the opportunity to present to it.