An Oireachtas committee has recommended that the so-called "baptism barrier", which allows religious-run schools to discriminate against children on the basis of religion in school admissions, be abolished.

In a report scrutinising proposed new school admissions legislation, the Joint Committee on Education and Skills says it is imperative that laws allowing such discrimination should, at the very least, be amended so that no child is denied entry to a State-funded school because of their religion or beliefs.

Since late last year, the committee has been examining new legislative proposals which aim to ensure that school enrollment policies are transparent and non-discriminatory.

The new 'Admission to Schools' bill does not however address the issue of religious discrimination in school access.

The committee has heard from stakeholders in education, including Catholic management bodies, and parents who are campaigning for equal access for all children.

Last week, members signed off on the committee's final report.

The report, which is due to be published shortly, makes a number of recommendations to the Minister for Education.

The committee urges that the baptism barrier be dealt with, although it stops short of specifying how.

It also calls for guidelines to be provided to schools in relation to students who choose to opt out of religious instruction or classes.

It says schools should provide "appropriate alternatives" to religion classes for such children.

The report points out that this is a constitutional right and in line with recommendations from the UN's Committee on the Rights of the Child.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Education has reiterated Richard Bruton’s belief that it is unfair that parents feel pressure to baptise their children in order to gain admission to their local school and that there are "no easy solutions" to the problem.

In a statement the department says that many suggested solutions would have a major impact on the ability of minority religious communities to run schools in accordance with their own ethos.

The minister has said he intends to act on the issue.

However, Mr Bruton favours addressing the problem separately to the current Admission to Schools legislation

In relation to children with disabilities, the report recommends that the National Council for Special Education be given the statutory power to compel schools to establish special classes for children with autism or other disabilities where such classes are required.

There is currently a chronic shortage nationally of special classes for children with autism.

In its submission on the new school admissions legislation, the NCSE requested that it be given such powers.

However, the Department of Education has not acceded to this request.

The closing date for amendments to the proposed legislation is tomorrow.

Fianna Fáil, as well as several other opposition parties, are expected to table an amendment seeking to grant the NCSE the additional powers that it has requested.

The department denied that there is a chronic shortage of specialised school places for children with autism.

Parents and others involved with special educational provision complain that there is, however, the department says there is no evidence to suggest this.

It says the NCSE has informed it that there are satisfied there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.