No problem with admissions to ‘vast majority’ of schools

The vast majority of schools in Ireland, including Catholic schools, are not oversubscribed, Fr Michael Drumm, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Council for Education, has said.

Schools “are open to all children whose parents apply for admission. In the minority of cases where schools are oversubscribed the school must publish the criteria that will be used to select students,” he added.

Fr Drumm was responding to a query from The Irish Times following reports yesterday that Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan had called for an end to "religious discrimination in schools."

In a submission to the Department of Education on draft legislation on school admissions she said denominational schools should not have the right to discriminate on the basis of religion.

Fr Drumm agreed “totally” with Ms Logan when she expressed concern at proposals to get rid of the “section 29” appeals mechanism.

Parents are to instead appeal to the school’s board of management. Fr Drumm felt this “lands too much responsibility on the school”.