Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 September 2021
294. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will that ensure schools provide suitable alternative educational activities for students who have opted out of religion class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45931/21]
View answerUnder Article 44 of the Constitution and in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religious instruction classes if they so wish.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required, where schools provide religious instruction that they clearly set out in their admission policies the school’s arrangements for students, where the parent or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, has requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction in the school.
The manner in which any school ensures that the right to opt out of religion instruction classes is upheld is a matter for the school concerned. Each individual school must determine the particular arrangements which are most appropriate in its individual circumstances having regard to local issues such as available space, supervision requirements and how the school concerned organises classes etc.
