Education Committee to begin pre-legislative scrutiny of the Education (Admissions to School) Bill 2020

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 between 11am to 2pm. 

 The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020 reached Second Stage in the Dáil in November 2020 and the Committee decided to conduct scrutiny of the Bill and sought submissions from interested parties.

Representatives from the following organisations are due to attend the meeting: 

Representative from the Joint Managerial Body (JMB)
Representative from Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD)
Representative from National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE)
Representative from Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)
Representative from Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS)
 

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Paul Kehoe said: “The Bill seeks to amend the School Admissions Bill introduced by the previous Government to remove the provision whereby 25% of school places are reserved for children and grandchildren of past pupils.”

 “The Education Act 1998 provides that 25% of places can be held for the children and grandchildren of a particular school. The Committee is interested to find out from representatives about how widespread the practice is currently used throughout schools as an admission policy.”

 “Information as to how many schools choose to invoke this 25% provision and its impact on school enrolment will be key to the Committee’s discussions on the matter. It is crucial that any measures to change the admissions process must be transparent and consistent for all and serves students and families regardless of background.”

 The Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

You can view the meeting in Committee Room 2 on the Oireachtas website here.