Seanad debates

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Commencement Matters

Legislative Process

10:30 am

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Richmond for raising this issue. This is an important issue and it has been considerably debated. As the Senator will be aware, the Labour Party's Bill was introduced last year, involving a deadline of 12 months which is coming up in June of this year, where one particular proposal was outlined by the Labour Party. It was agreed by the Dáil that we would have parallel tracks, one track being the admissions policy, for which we have the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, and the other being continuing consultation, which has been under way since June in terms of the Oireachtas committee, on the Labour Party's Bill, which deals with only one option. I was keen to broaden that consideration in order that when the Dáil and Seanad would come to consider these Bills, we would have the benefit of a broad consultation and I would have the opportunity to hear the views of stakeholders within the education system and bring that to bear on the various Committee Stage and Report Stage discussions.

As the Senator will be aware, this is only concerned with primary schools. This concerns the admission policies to more than 3,000 primary schools. It comes from the growing sense of frustration for parents that at times they cannot get access to their local school, they may find children coming from a very far distance to get preference over a child who lives beside the school or they may be under pressure, as they see it, to baptise their child when that is not their preference.

To try to resolve this, I have set out four separate options. The first, much along the lines of the Labour Party Bill, is a catchment approach where one could only have preference exercised by a denominational school within that catchment area. The second is similar in that it would look at the nearest school of that denomination and one could only exercise preference for a child in that denomination if it was the closest school of that denomination. The third is a quota system where there would be a limited quota over which preference could be given. The fourth is an outright prohibition on religion as a criterion for admission, but making sure that there could still be a capacity to allow religious schools to require parents or students to indicate support or respect for the ethos of the school.

The reason I have had a consultation is I am mindful of the possible pitfalls and unintended consequences and it has been clear that some other parties in the House have expressed the intention to put forward amendments, not only to the Labour Party's Bill but to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, which is on a tight schedule because many want to see that implemented for the coming school year, which is a correct ambition. I am keen to see the twin-track approach respected and I hope that can be done.

To clarify, the ten to 12 week consultation was the entire consultation. I envisaged a period during which written submissions could be made and we could assess those. That would be followed by that assessment internally. There could then be the necessity of meetings with individual groups which raise particular issues. My ambition was that, in setting a ten to 12 week period, we would be in a position by the end of April to deal with the issues if they came up under the Labour Party's Bill, which I believe is the correct approach. If the issues were to arise earlier, with some party seeking to have these dealt with in the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, then we would be in a position to present a properly evaluated position by the Department on this issue. It is timely that we bring these forward.

I am conscious of the points the Senator makes. I will consider the issue he raises of extending the period but I emphasise that there is a certain sense of urgency with this.There are two Bills currently before the House that will be progressing to Committee Stage. The Labour Party's Bill is expected to go to Committee Stage some time after June and the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill will be dealt with before then. There is a strong sense of the need to get views into the Department. I know that when deadlines are set for submissions there is often a tendency for people to leave it to the very end of the period before they make a submission. I will bear in mind what the Senator has said and his expression of genuine concerns because we do want to give people the opportunity to make submissions. I will consider what he has said but I would ask that all of those who are interested in making a submission to make a strong effort now to get views together, carry out assessments and be in a position to submit them before the deadline. That said, I will consider the possibility of extending it.

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