Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016
Public bill · Government · Presented
The bill would require every recognised school to have a written admissions policy and to publish it, with clear rules that are fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. It also bans most admission fees, sets out how schools must choose between applicants when places are limited, and gives the Minister, school patrons and education bodies powers to step in if a school is not following the rules. It is meant to make school entry more open and consistent, while still allowing some special arrangements for single-sex schools, religious ethos, special educational needs and fee-charging or boarding schools.
Formal long title
Bill entitled an Act to make provision, in the interests of the common good, that a school recognised in accordance with section 10 of the Education Act 1998 shall prepare and publish an admission policy and that such policy shall include a statement that the school shall not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on specified grounds, and to provide that in certain circumstances the patron or Minister may issue a direction to a board of management in relation to the admission of students to a school and to provide that in certain circumstances the patron may appoint an independent person to comply with such direction, and to provide that in certain circumstances the National Council for Special Education or the Child and Family Agency may designate a school or centre for education which a child is to attend, and to provide an amended appeals process where a student has been expelled or suspended from, or has failed to gain admission to, a school; and to provide that, following a report from the National Council for Special Education, in certain circumstances the Minister may issue a direction in respect of the additional provision of education for children with special educational needs; to amend section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 in relation to its application to recognised primary schools, to further amend that Act to provide for the application for admission to recognised primary schools by students of minority religions; and for those and other purposes to amend the Education Act 1998, the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007, and to provide for related matters.
Last updated 30 July 2018
- Minister for Education and Skills Primary
- First StageDáil
- Second StageDáil
- Committee StageDáil
- Report StageDáil
- Fifth StageDáil
- Second StageSeanad
- Committee StageSeanad
- Report StageSeanad
- Fifth StageSeanad Enacted
- EnactedEnacted
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: From the Seanad Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages Seanad
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) Seanad
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage Seanad
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage Seanad
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) Seanad
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Order for Report Stage Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report Stage Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage Select Committee on Education and Skills
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Referral to Select Committee Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Order for Second Stage Dáil
- Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage Dáil