Education (Admission to Schools) Bill amendments
Deputy Shortall asked when amendments to remove the baptism barrier and address special-education provisions would be brought forward. The Minister said drafting with the Attorney General was ongoing and that completion remained his ambition, though no firm timeline was given.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 completed Committee Stage on 28 June 2017, when the Minister indicated his intention effectively to remove the baptism barrier. A lot of time has now elapsed and I am wondering if the Minister is ready to bring forward his amendments in that regard. What timescale is he now working to for the completion of that legislation?
Comment on this
As I think I indicated to the Deputy before, we are working with the Office of the Attorney General to get robust drafting of amendments to deal with that issue and others raised on Committee Stage, such as the power for the National Council for Special Education to oblige schools in certain circumstances to open special units. Both of those provisions require some careful drafting. No effort is being spared in trying to get to a conclusion but they are tricky enough in the drafting. That work is ongoing. My ambition is to complete it as quickly as possible but I am not in a position to give the Deputy an absolute timeline.