Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My point is that waiting lists have allowed schools to cherry-pick, to an extent. It might not be particularly politically correct but it is a reason to do away with waiting lists, as that would leave a fairer and more level playing field. I am also aware of schools that have fees associated with being on a waiting list. With one school in particular, to the best of my knowledge, parents must pay an annual fee from when a child is in second class to remain on a waiting list. When the child gets to sixth class, parents must pay a significant registration fee in September or October of that year just to remain on that list. Even at that, the school has always had more applications over the past number of years than it has had space. It is another example of not necessarily having a level playing field so I welcome the measures within the Bill because they are positive.

Similarly, the publication of schools admission policies is really important. As a politician, many parents contact me who are concerned about such policies and there is much ignorance about what is in the schools admissions Bill. As we know, every school has the autonomy to have its own admissions policy but when it is not readily available, it can lead to much concern and suspicion as to how the process is carried out. The explicit ban on discrimination is key and it should be a given. We have a challenge in that discrimination can sometimes be hard enough to prove or find. Having a school admissions policy open and published, readily available to everybody, would particularly protect those schools doing their business in the right way. There are many schools I deal with that take great pride, even when they are over-subscribed, in dealing with these matters in a very fair way. We need to protect the reputation of those schools so even if a few act badly, those who act well would get to keep their good name in that regard. It is another good measure within the Bill.

The Minister knows the pressures in Newbridge and Kildare South that I mentioned as he met representatives of a campaign seeking an Educate Together school in the area. Similarly, I have told the Minister that many parents contact me who have concerns about provision. I know the departmental officials argue that future demand will be met by both existing and planned developments but there is much concern that this might not be the case. There is a planned extension to the Patrician secondary school in Newbridge for 2019 but that must happen sooner because the pressure on spaces and demand for the school is significant. I ask the officials to examine how quickly it can be expedited. Similarly, there is a planned extension for Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen for 2018 but as far as I am aware, no meaningful work has commenced in the process and we are near the end of 2016. If it is to happen in 2018, I would like to see real engagement from the Department.

There are also planned extensions in Athy, not to mention the new autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units coming with those facilities that are really important. We have been good at developing ASD units at primary level but there is a shortage at secondary level because of pressure. We are facing a bit of a cliff because children are in ASD units at primary level but we do not have spaces for them at secondary level. That process must be expedited. Although there is a plan as part of the extensions, we need it to happen very quickly.

The issue of the process arising from section 29 of the Education Act 1998 has been touched on by colleagues. Perhaps it has been spoken about in a different manner. It can be a difficult process when there are spaces in the school but somebody has not met the enrolment criteria. There are many examples of this issue in my local area because the schools are over-subscribed. It is a harsh, blunt and costly instrument for the State, and I believe the average cost of a section 29 process is close to €700. It takes up many man hours, there is much emotional involvement from families and it can be a very crude instrument dealing with proof of a specific structural deficiency. One cannot get into more of the sentiment of the cases.

This Bill is definitely a step in the right direction. More needs to be done but I am delighted to be part of a Government that is addressing admissions policy. It is something we spoke about in the last Government and it is great to see it being progressed. I spoke about the pressures in south Kildare and an Educate Together campaign, and I have encouraged those people to look at other options. They have been fighting for a new school but the Department has stated the demand does not exist for that school. We would argue about some of the figures being used. We need more choice in provision for south Kildare and I call on those campaigning for that to engage with the education and training boards to see what options exist. We have partnerships and collaborations in other parts of the country that can be used as models. I ask the departmental officials to keep a very close eye on the demographics of Kildare South as we have one of the fastest-growing and youngest populations in the country. The pressure is very evident in our schools.

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