Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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559. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has issued guidance to schools in relation to the enrolment of Ukrainian refugees; if schools will need to apply their existing admissions policy in the event that space is allocated within existing classrooms; if any alterations to the admission notice numbers for the purposes of this emergency will continue to apply to a school indefinitely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15073/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My department has issued guidance to schools on supporting students from Ukraine that enquire about enrolling. Where children of school-going age have arrived already and want to access the school system right away, schools that have capacity locally will welcome those children in the usual way.

Our schools are well-practiced in welcoming children of all nationalities and backgrounds and do this throughout the school year.

Schools admission policies are drafted in line with the provisions of the Admission to Schools Act. It is a key feature of the act that school admission policies treat all children equally and that schools must accept all applicants unless oversubscribed.

There is no requirement for schools to review these policies. Annual Admissions notices are drafted on a yearly basis prior to the commencement of the schools admission process for the following school year, there is no requirement for schools to amend these notices.