It's been confirmed that primary schools will be allowed to hold 10 per cent of places for the children of former pupils.
Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan's announced the measure as part of a new Admission to Schools Bill.
The Minister is promising that new rules on school admissions will ensure every child is welcome in every school.
She announced the details at the INTO Congress in Co Clare this morning.
But the Minister says she has an open mind on the number – and it could still be changed if there's a good reason to do so.
Ferdia Kelly, General Secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, says they welcome openness when it comes to admissions policies.
But he says the new rule limiting the allocation of spaces for the children of past pupils to 10 percent won't affect the majority of parents.
Clonmel High School was involved in a high profile admissions case when Mary Stokes took a case on behalf of her son John after he was refused admission to the school.
She claimed the school policy of giving preference to the children of past pupils indirectly discriminated against Traveller children. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled this was not the case.
Minister O'Sullivan says the new Bill will guarantee that every child will be seen equally in the eyes of the law.
Head of the TUI Gerry Quinn says he hasn't seen the full details of the admissions Bill, but broadly speaking the union is in favour of it.
