Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the policy that the board of management in a school (details supplied) have in place regarding the registration of new pupils for first year places, which requests that parents provide a utility bill along with the normal documents needed as proof of address and the fact that this need for a utility bill is not workable in the cases of shared parenting or for those families living in emergency accommodation who would not have access to these bills; her views that this process is discriminatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52500/22]

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.

Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school.  The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the pupil/student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will 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. However, this may result in some pupils/student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Applicants referred to by the Deputy can contact the school to discuss how information requested by the school can be provided.