Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have repeatedly asked during the past year about the Education (Admissions to School) Bill. The Bill consultation ended almost a year ago. We have been awaiting the legislative amendments. We are told continually that they are with the Attorney General.

While waiting for the Bill that would address the baptism barrier, we have divested several primary schools that are being run by Educate Together. In that context, it is bizarre that five of those schools, those in New Ross, Tramore, Trim, Tuam and Castlebar, are now being told that they can only take 13 pupils in each year. In Trim, there are five primary schools but only one multidenominational school. In New Ross, this new directive came as a shock to the school.

At the time of their establishment, the schools were not given any indication that such a restriction would be imposed on intake. When will the amendments to the Education (Admissions to School) Bill be published and when will the legislation be advanced? By what rationale are intake and parental choice being restricted in these schools?

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