Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill will reach Committee Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28381/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6^thJuly 2016.

Publication of the Bill reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish new School Admissions legislation taking account of current draft proposals and addressing issues including publication of school enrolment policies, an end to waiting lists, introduction of annual enrolment structures, and transparency and fairness in admissions for pupils and their parents.

The Bill provides an over-arching framework for greater transparency and fairness in school enrolment generally and thereby gives greater confidence to parents that the admission criteria laid down by schools and the procedures used by them are legitimate, reasonable and fair.

The Programme for Government targets enactment of this legislation before September 2017. The Bill is a priority listing on the current legislative programme and I hope the Bill will move to second stage shortly and Committee Stage later in this term.

The second and subsequent stages of the Bill will provide an opportunity for detailed examination of the provisions of the Bill as it passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas.