Call to keep enrolment appeals independent

A system for parents to independently appeal schools’ refusal of children for enrolment should be kept in any new Government rules on admission, TDs and senators have recommended.

Their report on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s draft outline of a bill to allow him regulate school admissions backed the view of most groups and individuals who gave evidence to the Oireachtas education committee.

The draft scheme of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, published by Mr Quinn six months ago, proposed to replace the current system in which a committee appointed by the Department of Education can hear appeals against schools that turn down an application to enrol a child. Instead, it suggested the initial decision be one for the school principal, with appeals only to go as far as the school board.

But this was opposed by various groups, including parent representatives, who felt this would not be independent enough. Representatives of school management were concerned that the only recourse after that would be to the courts, if parents were not satisfied with the outcome.

The Oireachtas committee agreed that Mr Quinn’s proposal should be revised.

“Perhaps it might be done on a regional basis, but appeals should be independent of the school board of management,” said committee chairperson, Labour TD Joanna Tuffy.

The report will be considered by Mr Quinn before he publishes the bill, due by the summer. The department has said regulating how schools select students would only affect the one- in-five schools which have more applicants than places each year and it will make a more transparent system for parents.

The committee says first- come first-served waiting lists should be phased out as soon as possible — given the potential to discriminate against newcomers to an area — rather than over a number of years as the minister’s draft regulations suggested.

Rules allowing up to 25% of places for children of past pupils was also opposed.

Some of the strongest opposition came from Traveller representatives, who said it would allow discrimination continue against children whose parents have not attended second level.

A provision that the National Council for Special Education may direct a school to enrol a child was supported, but the committee says any necessary resources should also be provided by the Department of Education within a timeframe set in law.

The draft bill’s suggestion that children of teachers in a school may be prioritised is questioned by the committee, but they support allowing brothers and sisters of current pupils getting a degree of preference in over-subscribed schools.