School principals are calling on the Department of Education to allow schools to introduce CAO-style application processes for school places.

The Irish Primary Principals Network says such a move would standardise enrolment policies and make the admissions system fairer.

Using a web-based system, the group is proposing that there should be one annual date for applications by parents and another for a response from schools, with parents ranking schools in order of their preference.

The call comes as the Education Minister is preparing to publish draft legislation aimed at making school enrolment policies fairer.