Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to set up an Educate Together primary school in the Dublin 4 area. [14962/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A review of the criteria and procedures for the establishment of new primary schools has been undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation and its report has recently been published on my Department's website. It will be necessary to consider the report's recommendations and proposals. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools.

The establishment of new schools, including the request for an educate together primary school in the Dublin 4 area, will be considered in this context. In line with a commitment given in the programme for Government I have launched a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which will enable all stakeholders including parents to engage in open debate on change of patronage in communities where it is appropriate and necessary. The Forum intends to develop a mechanism by which a change of patronage in existing schools can occur. I want to assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring our education system caters for a pluralism of choice which reflects the needs of Ireland today and into the future.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the restrictive practices that are in place in State schools with a Catholic ethos, such as that disqualifying unbaptised children from enrolment, are acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14963/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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.