Media notification – Labour to launch Bill to address religious discrimination in primary schools tomorrow
MEDIA NOTIFICATION
Sunday 26 June, 2016
LABOUR TO LAUNCH BILL TO ADDRESS RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOMORROW
Labour Party Education Spokesperson Joan Burton, along with Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, will launch the Party’s Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 tomorrow.
The Bill will be debated in Labour’s Private Members’ time in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, and will be voted on, on Thursday.
Monday, 27 June, 2.30 pm
Royal College of Physicians
No 6 Kildare St
Dublin 2
The Bill will make it much more difficult for primary schools to discriminate against children on the basis of their religion, and will make it easier for parents to send their children to their local school, regardless of their faith.
Under current laws, schools run under the patronage of one religious organisation or another, are perfectly entitled to exclude a child of any other religion, if a member of their own faith is seeking a place in the school.
Under Labour’s proposals, schools would be allowed to give preference to members of their own religion, but only those in the direct catchment area. After that, any child from the locality, regardless of their religion, would have to be given a place, if there is one available.
ENDS
Contact Dermot O’Gara 086-084-6534