Education (Admission to Schools) (Co-Education) Bill 2022

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The bill would end the legal exemption that lets recognised single-sex primary and post-primary schools refuse to admit pupils of the other gender. It would do this after a long lead-in period: 10 years for primary schools and 15 years for post-primary schools, giving schools time to change their admission policies or consider merging with another school. It matters because it would move Irish schools towards co-education by removing a long-standing exception to the general rule against gender discrimination in school admissions.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to disapply at separate future dates, in relation to recognised primary and post-primary schools, the exemption provided by certain enactments from the prohibition against discrimination on the gender ground in educational establishments, and to provide for connected matters.

Last updated 2 May 2025