The Education Minister is to publish new laws on school admissions procedures today.
Jan O'Sullivan will announce the details of the Admission to Schools Bill which all primary and secondary schools will have to comply with.
Under the rules, schools will only be allowed to allocate 10 percent of their places for the children of past pupils.
The idea of the new bill is to make enrolement at primary and secondary level fairer.
Schools will also be banned from charging parents to apply for places, except at private or boarding schools.
Waiting lists, which are seen to descriminate against immigrants and parents who have moved, will be phased out.
Religious schools will still be able to give preference to children of their faith.
Schools will also be able to favour the brothers or sisters of current students and the children of staff members.
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