Mixed reaction to Richard Bruton’s plan to tackle school enrolments

Education Minister Richard Bruton’s plans to tackle problems caused for parents by links between religion and school enrolments have received a very mixed reaction.

Campaign groups have welcomed his commitment to deal particularly with the “baptism barrier”, which forces many families to baptise children to ensure access to local schools, although uncertainty remains over the timeframe.

However, the removal of religious persuasion as a possible criteria for over-subscribed primary schools to select pupils is one of just four options on which the minister is seeking submissions over the next three months.