Dooish N.S. Admission Notice & Policy with Catholic Schedule 2026-27
In respect of admissions to the 2026-27 school year
Date of Publication on Website – 05/11/2025
This notice is also available by written request to Dooish N.S., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal or email office@dooishns.ie
Admission Policy and Application Form
A copy of the school’s Admission Policy and the Application Form for Admission for the 2026/2027 school year are available as follows: –
To copy and download at: Junior Infant Application Form 26-27
ASD Abbey Class Application Form 2026-27
By writing to: Dooish N.S., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. F93N768
PART 1 – Admissions to the 2026 / 2027 School Year
Application and Decision Dates for admission to 2026 / 2027
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants.
The school will commence accepting applications for admission on 03/11/2025
The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on 11/03/2026
The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is 27/03/2026
The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 24/04/2026
*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn
Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
Special Class Application and Decision Dates for admission to 2026 / 2027
The following are the dates applicable for admission to the school’s Special Class – ‘Abbey Class’ which caters for children with autism.
The school will commence accepting applications for admission to the special class on 03/11/2025
The school shall cease accepting applications for admission to the special class on 11/03/2026
The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application for admission to the special class is 27/03/2026
The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 24/04/2026
*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn
Number of places being made available in 2026 / 2027
The number of places being made available in junior infants is: 30
The number of places being made available in the special class* catering for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders is: 1
This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron in September 2020. It is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hard copy, on request, to any person who requests it.
The relevant dates and timelines for the Dooish N.S. admission process are set out in the school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.
This policy must be read in conjunction with the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.
The application form for admission is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hard copy on request to any person who requests it.
2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
Dooish N.S. is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Bishop of Raphoe.
“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
a living relationship with God and with other people; and
a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and
the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,
and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Dooish N.S. shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
Dooish N.S. Mission Statement & General Objectives
A Roman Catholic School (which is established in connection with the Minister for Education) aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic School provides Religious Education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Catholic Faith.
Dooish National School is a coeducational, Catholic, primary school which strives to provide a well ordered, caring, happy and secure atmosphere where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of pupils are identified and addressed.
While Dooish N.S. is a school with a catholic ethos, it has also due recognition for pupils from all other religions and none.
Dooish N.S. welcomes appropriate and relevant communication and cooperation with parents either individually or as members of Board of Management or Parents’ Association.
Dooish N.S. will strive to promote both individually and collectively, the professional and personal development of teachers through the promotion of Continuous Professional Development.
Dooish N.S. will endeavour to enhance the self esteem of everyone in the school community, to imbue in the pupils respect for people and property and to encourage in them the idea of being responsible.
Dooish N.S. will promote gender equity amongst teachers and pupils.
Déanfaimid iarracht an ghaeilge a labhairt agus a chur chun tosaigh.
Our School Motto is: Tús Maith Leath na hOibre
Dooish N.S. will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:
the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs
As per section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.
Dooish N.S. will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
Dooish N.S. will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.
All Denominational Schools
Dooish N.S. is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Roman Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
Schools with Special Education Class(es)
Dooish N.S. is a school which has established a class, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.
4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class
(a) In the case of a mainstream school with a SEN class attached
Dooish N.S. with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established a class to provide an education exclusively for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –
the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student
All Denominational Schools
Dooish N.S. is a Roman Catholic School and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of Roman Catholic Faith where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
School with Special Education Class(es)
The special class attached to Dooish N.S. provides an education exclusively for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and the school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.
In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual admission notice:
(a) Children of past & present Staff Members (priority to oldest)
(b) Brothers and Sisters of students attending or having attended Dooish N.S. (priority to oldest)
(c) Children who live the nearest distance to Dooish N.S. on Google Maps
In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the following arrangements will apply:
Priority will be given to the oldest pupil or pupils where two or more pupils are tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above.
7. What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7) (e) of the Education Act, the school will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school:
(a) a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí,
other than in relation to a student’s prior attendance at
(a) an early intervention class in the case of enrolling in our ASD Class
(b) the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;
(c) a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
other than in relation to:
– admission to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned.
(d) the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
(e) a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
(f) a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school;
other than, in the case of this school which includes a selection criteria based on (1) siblings of a student attending or having attended the school.
(g) the date and time on which an application for admission was received by the school,
This is subject to the application being received at any time during the period specified for receiving applications set out in the annual admission notice of the school for the school year concerned.
8. Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to Dooish N.S. will be based on the following:
Our school’s admission policy
The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)
The information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our annual admission notice for receiving applications. Please specify if application is mainstream or special class or both.
(Please see section 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.)
Selection criteria that are not included in our school admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.
9. Notifying applicants of decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions notice.
If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.
Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (see section 18 below for further details).
10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from Dooish N.S., you must indicate -
(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and
(ii) whether or not you have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.
11. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by Dooish N.S. where -
it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
the parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student; or
an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10
12. Sharing of Data with other schools
Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of certain information between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students.
Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom—
(i) an application for admission to the school has been received,
(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made, or
(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.
The list may include any or all of the following:
(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;
(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;
(iv) a student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).
13. Waiting list in the event of oversubscription
In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to Dooish N.S. were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.
Placement on the waiting list of Dooish N.S. is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.
Applicants whose applications are received after the closing date, outlined in the Annual Admission Notice, will be placed at the end of the waiting list in order of the date of receipt of the application.
Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.
All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list as set out in Section 13
15. Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:
Enrolment applications for all other classes for the following school year can be made to the Board of Management within the same timeframe notice as for the school’s intake group, but also from that date until the day before the new school year begins. Relevant criteria and available space will be taken into consideration by the Board of Management.
Enrolment applications to our Abbey Class (Special Class) should be accompanied by an autism diagnosis and placement recommendation following the student’s prior attendance at an early intervention class.
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school year in which admission is sought, are as follows:
An enrolment application for all classes during the school year can be made to the Board of Management for consideration. Admission is possible on the first day of the first week of the term after Hallowe’en, Christmas or Easter Holidays where the Board determines that there is space in the class and the relevant criteria have been applied.
Enrolment applications to our Abbey Class (Special Class) should be accompanied by an autism diagnosis and placement recommendation following the student’s prior attendance at an early intervention class.
16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
The board of Dooish N.S. or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
an application for admission of a student to the school, or
the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
17. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction
The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parents or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, who has requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction in the school. These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:
A written request should be made to the Principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s) or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.
Review of decisions by the board of Management
The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1) (c) (ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
SCHEDULE FOR A CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Dooish N.S. is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Bishop of Raphoe, Alan Mc Guckian
“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
a living relationship with God and with other people; and
a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and
the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,
and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Dooish N.S. shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
Dooish N.S. will endeavour to enhance the self-esteem of all members of the school community and the holistic development of the child, the development of child’s creativity, talents and academic strengths.
The ethos of Dooish N.S. is characterised by its small rural setting. The values and traditions are nurtured daily through prayer, mutual respect for staff and pupils and a welcoming of the diversity in the school community embracing children of other faiths and beliefs. A spirit of mutual respect and inclusiveness is promoted and pupils are taught to appreciate and respect all people regardless of differences including nationality, religion or additional needs. The needs and particular circumstances of the pupil are considered at all times. Religious Education is provided for pupils in accordance with the doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Church.
Parents enrolling children in Dooish N.S. should be aware that as a Catholic School, religious education is provided for pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church. Catholic children will be provided with religious experiences that will help them to develop their faith, such as prayer and sacramental preparation. The school environment will reflect the ethos of the school with displays of religious emblems, altars, seasonal displays, catholic traditions of receiving ashes/ getting throats blessed etc. and participation in Catholic School’s Week. Children will also learn about other religious traditions of the world with a particular focus on Christianity. Children from all religious backgrounds are welcome to participate in the religious education programme or abstain in accordance with parental wishes by contacting the school.
Dear Parent(s) / Guardians,
Please find information below regarding required changes to schools’ admission policies to allow for the direction by the NCSE to set up of special classes in schools.
The Department of Education wishes to bring to the attention of school authorities changes that are required to the schools Admissions Statement following the commencement of the Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Act 2022.
Step 1 – Mandatory text to be include in schools admissions statement
All schools must include the below text in the schools admissions statement. The admissions statement is part of the school’s admissions policy.
Dooish N.S. will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.
Dooish N.S. will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.”
Step 2 – Consultation with parents and staff
Section 62 (2) (b) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 requires schools to consult with the patron, parents of students attending the school and staff of the school where amendments are made to the school’s admission policy. Please bring this legislative change outlined in step 1 to the attention of the above members of the school community for their information and any comment by 28th February 2023.
This policy update will then be sent to the Patron for Approval and will be published on our website in March 2023.