Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy's comments and I share some of his concerns. Our present system works very well for 80% of the 4,000 schools. In 20% of cases, parents simply cannot get their children into primary or post-primary schools unless they put their names down soon after birth. The Deputy is aware of this problem in his constituency and other urban areas. The proposals were drafted in the Department. That process was commenced in the Department in 2009 in response to the Department's experience of section 29 appeals to what was happening. I published the proposals in draft form for discussion in June 2011. They were the subject of lengthy consultation. We considered the responses of the many people who got involved in that process. We received legal advice on the type of primary legislation we would have to enact before we could specify the regulations. I would like the joint committee to have a full, frank and open debate on this matter. I look forward to the committee taking submissions from the various stakeholders and consequently making recommendations to the Department. The Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, and I are open to change. We want to see whether we need to change some of the provisions of the draft legislation. We are open to the committee making a case for tweaking what we have published - it could be changed by adding to it or subtracting from it - and we will proceed with the legislation thereafter. We need to introduce legislation in this area. I urge the members of the joint committee to move as quickly as they can on this matter.

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