Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While Sinn Féin will support the Bill, in light of serious concerns expressed by a significant percentage of the population on this issue, we believe the legislation does not go far enough. As such, this is disappointing and a lost opportunity.

There is little doubt that the issue of school admissions has become extremely controversial. We are dealing with the legacy of an institutional structure and a mindset from a bygone era that is not fit for purpose in modern Ireland. In 21st century Ireland, we have a society that is racially, ethnically and ideologically diverse. In terms of religious affiliation, we have people in communities of all persuasions and none. The question for the State and its institutions is how to manage this diversity while at the same time ensuring equality of access for all. In education, particularly primary education, achieving this balance has proved problematic for the State thus far. In large part, this failure is due to the unwillingness of successive Governments to take control of the national school system, which is, after all, funded by taxpayers, and their failure to challenge powerful vested interests. The reluctance to tackle this issue once and for all has produced the chaos, confusion and anger that have become evident in public discourse on this issue.

The State has a duty to act in the best interests of all children. The only way to achieve this is through the introduction of a secular, public primary education system. While this Bill makes a positive contribution towards achieving this goal, it does not go far enough. We live in a complex world and the current admissions system is not sustainable.

I compliment the Educate Together campaign which has done fantastic work in the area of school admissions. Sinn Féin will continue to pursue this issue until we have a State-run primary school system that in practice and ethos is open to all children, irrespective of religious affiliation, race, class or ability.

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