Written answers

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

Department of Education and Science

School Enrolments

11:00 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 26 June 2008, it is open to the board of management of a school, primary or second level, to define its own catchment area; his views on situations where a school refuses admission to a student clearly resident within its traditional catchment area on the grounds of enrolment capacity, while simultaneously enrolling brothers and sisters of current students resident outside the catchment area; if it is appropriate for boards of management to prioritise the enrolment of siblings outside of the catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27931/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post primary education in the late 1960's. For school planning purposes, the country was divided into geographic districts, each with several primary schools feeding into a post primary education centre with one or more post primary schools. The intention was, and continues to be, that these defined districts would facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. A catchment boundary can only be changed by my Department.

With regard to school admissions, the position remains as set out in my previous response of 26th June 2008 i.e. it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an admissions policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

Where a Board of Management refuses to enrol a student in a school, the parent of the student or, where the student has reached 18 years of age, the student himself or herself, following the conclusion of any appeal procedures at school level, has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. A committee is established to hear the appeal with hearings conducted with a minimum of formality. In most cases appeals must be dealt with within 30 days. Where appropriate, the Secretary General may give whatever directions to the Board of Management that are considered necessary to remedy the matter complained of.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.

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