School admission measures
Deputy Colm Brophy asked when provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill would be commenced. The Minister for Education said several measures had already been commenced, including limits on religion in admissions, ASD unit designation powers, fee bans and co-operation on waiting lists.
One of the education measures in the programme for Government and the Action Plan for Education was the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. I ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the measures in the Bill will be commenced.
Comment on this
I am glad to say I have been in a position to commence a number of the measures to date, specifically, the restriction on the use of religion in admission to primary schools and the provision in regard to giving the Minister the power to designate a school to open an ASD unit, which was something Deputy Thomas Byrne was very keen to see included in the Bill. There is also commencement of the banning of any fees, including booking fees, and a provision for schools to co-operate in regard to admissions so they can share waiting lists to identify the problems. There is big progress on that Bill.