Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Power for raising the issue as it affords me the opportunity on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to outline the position with regard to the draft scheme of the education (admission to schools) Bill 2013 and associated draft regulations.

As the Senator will be aware, in early September the Minister published a draft general scheme for the education (admission to schools) Bill 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting the legislation. The heads of the Bill, which have been approved by the Cabinet, propose a new parent-friendly, equitable and consistent framework to regulate school admissions policy for all 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. If enacted, this framework will improve access to schools for all pupils and ensure consistency, fairness and transparency in the admission policies of all schools.

The Minister's aim is to improve the admissions process to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. The Minister has referred the draft general scheme and draft regulations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection to allow a full public discussion, including input from parents and the education partners. The committee has since invited and has received written submissions from interested individuals and groups including, as I understand it, the submission to which the Senator refers. It will now consider the submissions received and may also decide to invite more individuals or groups to a public hearing should it take the view that this would be beneficial. The Minister for Education and Skills is looking forward to considering the outcome of the committee's considerations of these important proposals in order to proceed to the next age of legislation as soon as possible.

The draft regulatory framework applies to all recognised primary and post-primary schools and its primary focus is on the enrolment of junior infants at primary level and first year students at post-primary level. The Minister acknowledges that some adjustment will need to be made to the scheme to ensure no unintended consequences of the legislation on the arrangement for enrolment in post-primary and post-leaving certificate courses within such schools.

I would like to assure the House that issues of this kind will be addressed before the draft legislation is finalised. It should also be noted that access to post leaving certificate courses is subject to the access, transfer and progression provisions of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

I again thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the draft scheme of the education (admission to schools) Bill 2013 and associated draft regulations.