Campaign to practically outlaw school places held for children of past pupils succeeds

The campaign by fee-paying and other schools against moves to practically outlaw places being held for children of past pupils has succeeded, as Fianna Fáil plans to support Government plans in this area.

Education Minister Richard Bruton will propose that schools be allowed set aside no more than one in four places for those whose mother or father attended during the passage of his new Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 which was published yesterday.

Although some secondary schools argued that no limits should be set on how many places can be held for past pupils’ sons or daughters, an Oireachtas Education Committee report in 2014 suggested a total ban on the practice. That emerged from extensive consultations on a draft bill put forward by previous education minister Ruairi Quinn, including a 25% cap on spaces that could be held.