The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in its ‘concluding observations’ following Ireland’s appearance before the committee last month, has called on Ireland to remove the right of religious schools to prioritise student applicants on the basis of faith.

It also calls for more non-denominational schools.

The report expresses concern that Irish schools “continue to practise discriminatory admissions policies on the basis of the child’s religion” and calls on the government to address this situation.

It called on the Government to, “Expeditiously undertake concrete measures to significantly increase the availability of non-denominational or multidenominational schools and to amend the existing legislative framework to eliminate discrimination in school admissions, including the Equal Status Act”.

The UN report comes just days after Bishop Brendan Kelly of the Irish Bishop’s Council for Education revealed that only a tiny minority of schools in Ireland are oversubscribed, making it necessary to prioritise applicants. In Dublin, the Bishop pointed out, just 5%, or 17 schools, used a faith-based admissions criteria due to over-subscription.

The UNCRC has also called on Ireland to, “Decriminalise abortion in all circumstances and review its legislation with a view to ensuring children’s access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services; and ensure that the views of the pregnant girl are always heard and respected in abortion decisions”.

The committee also said it is “concerned at the severe lack of access to sexual and reproductive health education and emergency contraception for adolescents.” ‘Emergency contraception’ act an as abortifacient.