Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the enrolment policy for secondary schools; his views on the fact that enrolment is decided after all applications are received in order that the school will vet the person to determine if applicants will be accepted; and if persons in catchment areas receive preference. [53030/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The 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.

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. In this regard, a school may decide to prioritise applicants based on a catchment area approach.

As the Deputy will be aware I published the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill on 6th July 2016. The Bill, which passed Committee Stage on 28 June 2017, will shortly proceed to Report Stage.

The Bill amends the Education Act 1998 to provide 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 provisions of the Bill should make it easier for parents to more easily access local schools and to enrol their children in a school that meets their needs.