Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004
202 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if national schools in the State, which have been grant aided by the State in various ways, can refuse the enrolment of a person who has never been baptised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15636/04]
View answerIt is the responsibility of managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion.
On the question of restricting enrolment to children who have been baptised, under section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000, a primary or post-primary school, which has as an objective the provision of education in an environment which promotes certain religious values, may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination provided that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
