Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
229. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation regarding school catchment boundaries for primary school and the way these impact on enrolment; if parents are entitled to enrol their child in a primary school outside their immediate catchment boundary; the criteria that can be applied by school authorities when determining enrolments in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25326/14]
View answerIt is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. 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 on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. 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. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014 and the General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting.
My aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection report on the Draft General Scheme followed public hearings at the committee involving parents and education partners among others. The recommendations from the Committee will be considered further in the context of the drafting of the Bill.
