Fianna Fáil will introduce a new school admissions policy to give priority to students based on their proximity to school if elected to government.

The party is proposing a series of changes, including reduction of class sizes to a maximum of 23 pupils and hiring 5,500 teachers.

Education spokesman Charlie McConalogue said the party would introduce a selection criteria for oversubscribed schools based on locality and newly designated catchment areas.

He said: “We think this is a fair approach. We believe it would deal with a large part of the issue that is there currently . . . But the other thing we need to deal with alongside that is capacity to ensure every student can have access to their local school.”

The proposal would mean that, in the case of faith-based schools, children from within a catchment area would be prioritised - regardless of their religion - over baptised children from outside the area.

In the case of minority faith schools - such as Church of Ireland - these catchment areas would be much larger, allowing schools to protect their religious ethos. Currently, the Equal Status Act 2000 allows religious-run schools the right to administer admissions policies which protect their ethos.

Appeal

However, a new Schools Admissions Appeals Body would also be established within the Department of Education where parents who suspect their child has been discriminated against can lodge an appeal.

The party’s proposals include employing 300 therapists, restoring guidance counsellors, banning vending machines and introducing “no-fry” zones. It will also introduce a computing and coding curriculum and a new PE curriculum.

Mr McConalogue accused the Government of stripping funding and forcing schools to host fundraisers.

The Donegal TD said: "Many of the remarkable advances made by previous Governments in building a quality and fair education system have been eroded by Fine Gael and Labour. Unless we act now we risk entrenching a new generation of inequality."