Committee To Discuss School Admissions Legislation

The Education Committee is to continue discussions on school admissions legislation tomorrow at Leinster House.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection will discuss with key stakeholders the upcoming legislation on the admissions process in Irish schools.

The meeting follows an invitation in October by the Committee to interested individuals and groups to have their say on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013.

Published by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn in September, the Bill sets out to regulate the admission of children to primary and post-primary schools, "to ensure a fair and transparent enrolment process".

Chair of the Committee Joanna Tuffy saids: "This important piece of legislation sets out to regulate the admission of children to primary and post-primary schools, with the overarching goal of ensuring fair, consistent and transparent schools admissions processes. As well as seeking to curb the practice of cherry-picking students, the legislation also proposes to ban non-fee paying schools from seeking deposits or payments to secure places.

"As legislators with the responsibility in this area, it is important that we engage with education partners on the potential merits and flaws within the legislation. Building on a fruitful meeting last week, tomorrow will be a valuable opportunity to hear the diverse perspectives of a wide range of interested stakeholders. On foot of these deliberations, the Committee will publish a report on the legislation, and the issues raised in the report may also be relevant in the context of the future consideration of the Bill by the Dáil and Seanad."

(IT/CD)