Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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388. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) in County Clare regarding school provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14052/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. 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 right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld. Section 29 Appeal Forms are available on my Departments website at the following link . or from Section 29 Appeals Administration Unit, Department of Education & Skills, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, phone 0761 108584.

The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, Heritage Business Park, Bessboro Road, Mahon, Cork, phone number 021-4536314.

The Deputy maybe aware that the draft General Scheme and draft regulations were referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion, including inputs from parents and the education partners. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection invited written submissions from interested individuals or groups in relation to the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. The closing date for submissions to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection was Thursday 31 October 2013.

The Committee considered the submissions received, and invited individuals and groups to a public hearing where it felt that this was beneficial. The Committee's report was published on 05 March 2014. The report will be carefully considered before progressing to the next stage of legislation.