After today, primary schools will not be allowed use religion to prioritise children of their own faith ahead of those living nearby as part of their admission policy.
Later today Education Minister Richard Bruton will sign a commencement order for a new law to take effect and to remove the baptism barrier.
The new law will include admission fee scrappages and a change to enrolment procedures. Schools can now only enrol a certain number of students or grandchildren from a past pupil.
Alongside the removal of the baptism barrier, Bruton will be introducing an updated P.E. programme which will aim to get 200,000 Irish teenagers studying for their junior cycle more physically active. A training programme will be offered to P.E. teachers to help implement the changes.
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The biggest change from the baptism barrier removal will be in urban where school places are limited and children are placed on waiting lists years in advance.
