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School Admissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Ceisteanna (205)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the commencement order for new laws under the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018 signed on 15 January 2020, has had a negative effect on children with special needs and disabilities and prevents them going on school waiting lists (details supplied); if he will review the legislation to ensure that such children will not be excluded from applying for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 is an important piece of legislation which strives to introduce a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates.

The provisions of the act aim to make it easier for parents to more easily access local schools and to enrol their children in a school that meets their needs. The act requires schools to be fair and transparent in deciding how to prioritise children for admission to the school.

On 14th January 2020 a number of sections of the act were commenced introducing new laws around admission to schools which became operational on 1 February 2020. These provisions apply to admission processes for the 2021/2022 school year onwards.

The most recently commenced sections of the act include a provision for waiting lists in existence on 1 February 2020 to be phased out five years from that date. The rationale behind this is that the use of waiting lists can give rise to discrimination, in particular in relation to people who have newly moved into an area, people who are renting, and those that have returned home from overseas. Schools planning to use historical waiting lists to fill their all of their school places must set this out in their annual admission notice which will notify parents that there are no available places for that school year.

My Department has provided a FAQ document with information for schools and parents on this and other related matters. This document and other relevant information on school admissions is available on my Departments website at the following link:

  https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/School-Enrolment/

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