Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will implement a State-wide uniform admission process in terms of preference of allocation of school places by individual schools, that is, siblings of existing students, distance to school, and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26219/23]

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 are have drafted admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school.

Parents have the right to 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 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 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. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools.

The act also provides for schools to share information in relation to applications in a locality to make the administration of the enrolment process more efficient for schools.