Debate over places for past pupils’ kids in schools

Government plans to maintain the right of schools to reserve places for children of past pupils were the subject of strong political differences in the Dáil yesterday.

One Fine Gael TD criticised party colleague Education Minister Richard Bruton’s proposal to limit the proportion of places which schools could set aside for sons or daughters of former students.

During the second-stage debate on the School Admissions Bill, Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick disagreed with the previous Oireachtas Education Committee recommendation that schools not be allowed to give priority to any children of past pupils.