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 admissions 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.

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.

Where applications or expressions of interest were received by the school before 1 February 2020 and where a school had before 1 February 2020, confirmed in writing that the applicant had been placed on a list for the purposes of allocating school places in the year concerned, places on such waiting lists will remain valid if a school wishes to include the waiting list as a selection criterion for the 25/26 school year. However, such waiting lists will cease to exist on 31 January 2025. Any offers of admission made by a school after this date cannot use this existing waiting list as a selection criterion.

All schools must 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.