Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the restrictions that apply to the withdrawal of children from one school to enrol in another local school; if this is a problem in the school system in long-term planning and staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15037/11]

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. 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.

In certain circumstances a parent may wish to transfer a child from his/her existing school to another and it is open to any parent to seek to enrol a child in another school if the parent so wishes. However, my Department has no evidence of such school transfers occurring on a scale that impacts adversely on school planning or staffing. The Deputy may be aware that separately I have just launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document, "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent and I am inviting education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28th of October.