Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 October 2021
142. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the provisions that have been commenced in relation to the Education Act 2018, specifically, the aims to make the rules around admissions to schools more structured, fair and transparent; the provisions yet to be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51607/21]
View answerThe Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was signed into law on the 18th July 2018. The overall objective of the Act is to provide a new framework for school enrolment that is designed to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on applications for admission is structured, fair and transparent.
The following provisions have been commenced and are now operational;
- Sec 62 requiring schools that are not oversubscribed to admit all students who have applied for a place.
- Amendment of the Equal Status Act 2000 which removed, in the case of recognised denominational primary schools, the previous provision that permited such schools to use religion as a selection criterion in school admissions.
- Waiting lists are banned, thus ensuring that parents who move in to a new area are not disadvantaged.
- All schools must publish their admissions policies, including details of their selection criteria.
- All schools must publish an annual admissions notice, detailing the dates the applications process takes place, including details of offers made the previous year if the school was oversubscribed.
- Charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to a school or for the enrolment or continued enrolment of a student in a school are prohibited.
- Section 8 setting out the steps requiring a school to open a special class or classes where the National Council for Special Education has identified a need for such provision within an area.
The remaining sections of the Act to be commenced require further consultation and procedures to be drafted and this process is ongoing.
