School enrolment - Changes are welcome

The decision by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to ban schools from charging fees for enrolment for admission years in advance of attendance should be warmly welcomed.

Parents were being asked for enrolment fees just to put their child on an admission list, and those fees were often non-refundable.

Mr Quinn emphasised that the change should benefit newcomers to an area, including people who return to this country with young families after having emigrated. New regulations will also stipulate that children of former students should no longer be given priority.