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 have drafted new policies, which will have been approved by the school patron by 15 September 2020, and should now be published on the schools website.
The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied, feeder schools are permitted as a criterion under the act, and schools can continue to prioritise selected feeder schools should they wish to do so. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.
Schools and their patrons have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied and are not required to consult or inform my Department in relation to their selection criteria. My Department has not been informed or consulted in relation to the selection criteria of Dominican College, Muckross Park.
