Written answers

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Department of Education and Science

School Enrolments

10:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has carried out a study into the admissions policy of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24754/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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An audit of school enrolment policies which looked at issues such as the enrolment of traveller children, newcomer children and children with special education needs in almost 2,000 schools at primary and post-primary level was carried out in 2007. The results were published on my Department's website in April 2008. The audit also looked at the written enrolment policies of a proportion of these schools and, more tellingly, how these policies translate into practice in terms of actual enrolment patterns.

At a general level, the audit finds no evidence of any system wide enrolment practices that give rise to concern. The audit does give rise to wider policy questions relating to:

- The need for enhanced information for parents about their rights should a school refuse to enrol their child.

- Those aspects of the written enrolment policies of schools which may be deemed exclusionary, e.g. pre-enrolling children from birth or providing preference to children of past pupils, thereby putting newcomers to communities at a disadvantage.

- The potential for improved inter-school co-operation in a given area in order to address enrolment anomalies.

- Possible proposals for intervention in local admissions where inter-school co-operation is not achieved.

- How identified problems can best be addressed.

A process of consultation with the main education partners on possible follow-up policy responses has also taken place. As part of this consultation process, specific questions were posed around the policy issues and possible approaches identified above. The responses received under the consultation process are being considered and it is my intention to take account of all views expressed before formulating specific proposals for action in order to address any anomalous enrolment practice that has been identified by the audit.

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