Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of section 29 appeals for refusal to enrol his Department has dealt with to date in 2014; if he will provide a breakdown by county, and whether primary or secondary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24559/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of section 29 appeals for refusal to enrol his Department has dealt with to date in 2014 for schools in Dublin 2, 4, 6, 6W and 8; if he will provide a breakdown by specific school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24560/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to date in 2014 for section 29 appeals for refusal to enrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24561/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of section 29 appeals for refusal to enrol that were carried out in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively; the annual cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24562/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 240, inclusive, together.

Up to the end of May 2014, there have been a total of 215 appeals lodged to my Department in respect of refusal to enrol. This is broken down as follows:

139 at post primary level and 76 at primary level.

The breakdown by location as requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The cost to the end of May 2014 is €136,961. This figure also includes section 29 appeals lodged in respect of suspensions and expulsions.

The remaining information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way it is planned for the admissions to school Bill to reduce the number of section 29 appeals for refusal to enrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24563/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014 and the General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting.

My aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. The framework also proposes a mechanism for ensuring that every child receives a school place.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection report on the Draft General Scheme followed public hearings at the committee involving parents and education partners among others. The recommendations from the Committee will be considered further in the context of the drafting of the Bill.