Primary schools that follow a Catholics first enrolment policy may be in breach of Irish and European anti-discrimination legislation, the Equality Authority warned today.
In a written opinion to the Government, the Archdiocese of Dublin and some Dublin schools the Authority has detailed the basis for its concern and called for a detailed review of the provision of primary school education.
In its statement the Authority says it is "concerned at the emergence in effect of segregated primary school provision for Black and minority ethnic students.
"From recent media reports it would appear that this is on foot of new requirements on pupils to present their Baptismal Certificates to gain access to Catholic primary schools and of inadequate provision of primary schooling for the diversity of pupils in the area."
The Authority says such practices run counter to the Government's own commitment to integration as set out in the National Action Plan Against Racism.
"Such segregation also runs counter to any commitment to equality in that segregated educational provision can stigmatise pupils, is often associated with poor educational outcomes and does not adequately enable pupils to interact effectively in the wider, more diverse society."