The Minister for Education & Science has acknowledged that there is a serious problem with schools cherrypicking pupils and avoiding the enrolment of children with special needs, Travellers and those who do not have English as their first language.
Mary Hanafin was speaking at the Teachers' Union of Ireland annual conference in Bundoran, Co Donegal, where the practice of excluding children with special needs or challenging behaviour was strongly condemned by union President Tim O'Meara.
He said the minister had shown excessive patience in tackling this issue and this, he said, smacks of cowardice to take on the vested interests who continue to practice exclusion of vulnerable children.
Mrs Hanafin said that her department has commissioned an audit on the problem, which is now half completed. She said when the final statistics are available they will be putting a moral responsibility on schools to meet their responsibilities.
In an era in which everyone is conscious of an inclusive society, she said, all schools have to make sure they show that.
However Mrs Hanafin did not accede to a TUI call to impose sanctions on schools who cherrypick, she said it would be very difficult to withdraw funding from them.
However she said that with extra resources, support and teachers available for children with special needs and language requirements, there was no excuse left for any school to cherrypick pupils.
Pay and further education are also on the congress agenda.
Earlier, the TUI said it was particularly concerned about getting a proper structure for adult education.
TUI General Secretary Jim Dorney said it was going to ask the minister to make sure the system is adapted for adult students.
