Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I note the publication of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I welcome the proposal to prevent schools from applying selection criteria in regard to the occupation or financial status of the student's parents, or a student's academic ability, skills or aptitude. I am less sure about limiting to 10% the places reserved for children of past pupils. The proposal that applications can only be accepted one year in advance needs to be discussed. However, I am sure the matters can be ironed out in the course of the Bill going through the House. In any event, it would be great if we could have the Minister in the Chamber in the next week to outline her position on the matter and, more generally, to debate that and other topical issues in education, particularly in the wake of the teacher conferences held during the Easter break.