Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 385: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Catholics first enrolment policy in primary schools with a Catholic ethos and patron; if this policy is still in place in the majority of Catholic schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17741/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. 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. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the rights of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected. Equality legislation, which also outlaws discrimination in relation to the admission of a student, makes provision for exemptions to apply in the case of single sex schools and in the case of schools where the objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. The legislation provides that any school that has this objective may admit a student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students.

The position is that the vast majority of primary schools are, and will continue to be, Catholic in ethos. It is also the case that such schools have historically welcomed pupils from all backgrounds and still do. However, more recently, other models of patronage have emerged which have widened the range of choice available to parents. The rapid pace of social and demographic change in Ireland is now reflected in a radically altered and more diverse society from which our school communities are drawn and as the school system further evolves, we will be seeking to ensure that all our schools reflect and represent the communities in which they are based.