Mattie McGrath
Question:10. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for changes to the school admissions policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15514/15]
View answerWednesday, 22 April 2015
Questions (10)
Oral answers (15 contributions)
In February the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in a case involving a boy from Clonmel who was refused admission to the Christian Brothers school in Clonmel, County Tipperary. The Equality Tribunal had found that the school's policy discriminated against Travellers, but the Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court decided in favour of the school. I and the school management organisations are concerned about this. As a former member of boards of management for primary and secondary schools, I and other volunteers throughout the country are in danger of being walked on. The schools have their policies, as is clear from the Minister's comments on the school meals issue. The joint managerial bodies are very concerned. Why are they being forced? If the child's father decided not to go to school, that is not the school's fault.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was recently published and it is on the Government's legislative programme for enactment in this session. The Bill, if enacted, will provide for the Minister to make regulations, following consultation with the relevant education stakeholders, regarding the admission of students to schools. It is my intention that any such regulations include regulations relating to the content of school admissions policies. I have made it clear that I intend to listen to all views before coming to any conclusions on the regulations and that the revised draft regulations will be published for further consultation with the relevant education stakeholders before any final decision is made.
I have great time for the volunteers on the boards of management. They have a very difficult job, and I have experienced it. There is a huge time commitment involved in running a school, and volunteers save the State an enormous amount of money. The school in Clonmel is exceptional, and it has been for years. This case went to the Supreme Court. Can the Minister imagine the fear and trepidation of the board members lest they be found personally liable? There is also the cost to the taxpayer of going through all those courts. In 2012 there were a total of 120,000 school admissions and 244 appeals were submitted, only 40 of which were upheld.
We must be very careful with the legislation we pass. First, we could damage the community and the civic spirit of people who get involved in running these schools, along with the teachers and other staff.
We may also be making grounds for people to appeal for various reasons. How can people who do not choose to go to school take a case on the basis that they are not being allowed in because their parents did not go?
That is ridiculous.
We have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The Deputy has illustrated the point that there are differing views in this House on this issue.
I know there are.
I agree with him that boards of management have a very difficult job and do a great service to schools around the country.
Massive.
The most important thing in relation to the proposed school admissions Bill, and in relation to policy in general, is that we are fair to all students.
Of course it is.
That is why we need a transparent system that is clearly understood by parents, is within the terms of equality legislation, gives young people the best opportunity to go to school and gives parents the best opportunity to enrol their children in the school of their choice. That is a balancing act, because not all schools have room for all the children who apply. I reiterate that if the school has room, it has to take the child. It is only where schools do not have room for all the children who apply that we have to make these regulations and ensure they are as fair as possible. Certainly, my priority is to be fair to all of the students.
I welcome the Minister's commitment to being fair. That is the overriding position for everybody. If a school has places, it is a non-issue. There is a problem if the school is overcrowded because of huge demand. That is the situation in Clonmel. We have to be supportive of the boards of management. There is no point in paying lip service to them. They do a huge job. For a variety of reasons, they are under enormous pressure on a daily basis as they run the schools. Now, more than ever, they need supports. I believe family cohesion is very important in terms of schooling supports. If there are vacancies, there is no issue. When there is not enough room because of excess demand, surely to God we must have some cognisance of all the courts in the land.
I think I have made my position clear. We cannot give absolute power to boards of management. They have to operate within a fair system. As Minister for Education and Skills, I am responsible for making recommendations to my Government partners on the best and fairest system we can introduce.
The Minister is micromanaging now.