Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:86. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what measures can be taken to ensure that all schools offer an option to opt out of studying religion at Junior Certificate level. [22880/23]
View answerTuesday, 16 May 2023
Questions (86)
Written answers
The Department does not require schools to include the NCCA-developed Religious Education syllabuses at Junior or Senior Cycle as mandatory subjects on their curriculum. Accordingly schools have discretion to determine if they provide the subject at all or if it is to be mandatory or optional in any particular class group or year.
Section 30 of the 1998 Education Act provides that a child is not required to attend instruction in any subject that is contrary to the conscience of the parent, this also applies to students over the age of 18. It is expected that this right will be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request.
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.