Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

677. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Education (Admissions to School) Bill 2015 and the difficulties parents face in enrolling their children at their local schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6435/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. This enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary and this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

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.

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 can be contacted at 01-7718500.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in April of last year, contained a number of important changes to make enrolment policies fairer and more transparent. It was not possible to bring this complex piece of legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas in the timeframe available. However, I have made it clear that a legislative framework for school admissions is required and that this needs to be a priority for the next government.

In 2011, the government introduced new arrangements for the recognition of new primary and second-level schools. The Department identifies the requirement to establish new schools in order to meet demographic need. The new arrangements place a particular emphasis on parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage. As part of the process, patrons must confirm willingness to enrol children in the area for whom the Department has identified the need for a school.