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School Enrolments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Questions (452)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if school closures due to Covid-19 impacted on enrolment policies communicated to schools for 2020 and 2021; if provisions have been made for persons wishing to place their children in schools but missed enrolment dates due to Covid-19-related difficulties in communication; and if she will set out the communication strategy schools should embark on regarding changes in dates for enrolment (details supplied). [3877/21]

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Written answers

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 required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The newly revised school's admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.

All schools have published an admissions notice outlining the timelines of the admissions process, this must be published a minimum of one week prior to the admissions process taking place. The admissions form are also published on the school's website. Schools cannot start this process until 1 October at the earliest in the year preceding the school year applied for. It also specifies when the school must make a decision and convey this decision in writing within the specified period as set out on their Admission Notice.

Schools have discretion in relation to the timing of their admission processes. 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 admission processes operated by schools.

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