Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the decision to remove from admission policies a preference for siblings in Dublin Catholic schools; if her Department was consulted on this move; and if this is regarded as a source of difficultly in achieving equitable admission in view of the considerable inconvenience for parents affected. [25734/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.

Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools have drafted new policies, which must be approved by the school patron by 15 September 2020, and published by 29 September 2020.

The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools and their patrons have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied, siblings as a criterion is permitted under the act. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.

While Patrons of schools including the Archdiocese of Dublin are not required to consult with my Department in relation to their selection criteria, the Archdiocese has subsequently provided my Department with information that it is the position of the Diocese that the siblings, step-siblings and/or children of the parish remain in the first category for the allocation of places.