Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he supports the separation of children on religious lines in different primary schools; or if he supports the integration of children of all religious beliefs in the same local national school, regardless of the patronage of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16019/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the primary school sector, which issued its report in 2012, recommended steps that could be taken to ensure that the education system can provide a sufficiently diverse number and range of primary schools to cater for children of all religions and none. A follow-up paper to the Forum Report entitled "Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Progress to Date and Future Directions" was published in July 2014. This paper outlined the progress made to date on implementing the Forum's recommendations with a particular focus on the issue of inclusion and diversity in schools.

It is my view that the desire of parents for diversity in education choice can be provided effectively by focussing on the delivery of the ambition to treble the number of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools as set out in the Programme for Government. This commitment is to deliver a total of 400 non-denominational and multi-denominational schools by 2030.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill which was published in April 2015 did not progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was not reinstated for the current Dáil session. However, I have commenced a process of consultation with opposition parties to discuss my proposals to introduce a new Admissions Bill to make the process of enrolling children in school easier for parents.

Following these consultations, it is my intention to publish a new Admissions Bill during the current Dáil session.

It is important to note that the new Bill will oblige all schools to admit pupils where there are available places.