Minister for Education: Parents have the right to decide if child attends religious education

The Minister was speaking this morning after it emerged the board of a second-level school in Limerick is to consider whether a first-year pupil can be allowed to opt out of studying religion.

Castletroy College has confirmed that parent Paul Drury was previously told his daughter could not opt out of religion.

Mr Drury told RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme that neither he nor his daughter were religious and that his daughter did not want to study the subject.

The law states that schools cannot require a student to participate in a subject that goes against their or their parents' beliefs.

The Constitution also gives parents the right to withdraw their children from religious instruction.

Moving to clarify the situation, Minister Jan O'Sullivan said: "There is clarity in terms of parental rights in relation to the law in the constitution.

"I understand the board of management is meeting this evening. I have had some discussion with the ETB (Education Training Board) and with people directly involved and I believe that the issue will be dealt with today.

"In general, there is the right of parents to take their children out of religious education, and if there is any more clarity needed then (the Department of Education) would be happy to give it.

"Certainly, I would be confident that there are clear guidelines with regard to these issues.

"I understand the school will be communicating with (Mr Drury) immediately after the board of management meeting, so I'm sure that clarity will be given (to the parent) at that point."

Asked what her advice would be to parents, the Minister said: "I hope parents do know their rights, and they should approach the school if they wish to have their child exempt from religion."

"Normally that is done first through the principal, and if necessary through the board of management."

"As I say, if there is clarity needed, then we would be very happy to provide"

The Minister added: "I do believe that it is the right of a parent - they are the primary educators of their children - so it is their right to decide whether or not the child attends religious education.

"I understand that the course in question (at Castletroy College) is a general course, about religion in general, but even at that, parents do have rights in this regard."

"Clearly I do believe that parents do have rights to have their children not attend religious education should they so wish."

Castletroy College is run by the local Education and Training Board and the Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, is a joint patron.

The school has confirmed that Mr Drury was told his daughter could not opt out of religion.

However it stated it will now reflect this evening to try to resolve the matter.

Limerick Councillor Cian Prendiville has called on the school to "allow pupils full freedom of religion" by not requiring their pupils to study religion against their family's wishes.

Cllr Cian Prendiville said: "I think the board of management at Castletroy College should respect the wishes of this pupil's family and not force her to take part in a religion class."

"From the pupil's father's comments it is clear that he thought that he was sending his daughter to a secular school and did not expect that it would be compulsory for her to take religion seeing as it is not a compulsory Junior Cert subject.

"Schools should respect people of all religious beliefs, this includes respecting those of no religious beliefs and atheists."