Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
835. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will permit a school (details supplied) to enrol additional pupils given that it has the spare capacity; if she has received a request from the school to permit the enrolling of more pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32016/21]
View answerIn 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 which will have been published a minimum of one week prior to the admissions process taking place. The notice details the number of school places that will be available for the forthcoming year. Schools must determine how many places are available and provide this detail in the admissions notice on an annual basis.
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.
