Atheist Ireland has claimed schools are “afraid” to provide children who opt out of religion with an alternative class because they worry it will encourage others to do the same. 

Article 44.2.4 of Bunreacht na hÉireann gives children a constitutional right to not to attend religion classes in their school. 

However, many parents decline to do so as schools fail to provide their child with anything to do while the other children are being taught religion. 

“They're left sitting in the class,” Atheist Ireland spokesperson Jane Donnelly told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“They have an educational disadvantage because they don't get another subject. 

“So, religion is about two hours every week.”

Primary school girls. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Ms Donnelly argued that children who opt out of religion classes should be provided with an alternative curriculum, one that teaches them about belief systems that shape the world. 

“They could get a subject on human rights or the right to freedom of religion and belief,” she suggested.

“Which would include learning about religions and beliefs in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner.” 

Ms Donnelly conceded that more funding is needed and said many more parents would like to opt their children out of religion than do so. 

“They don't want their children to be stigmatised, they feel their children will be maybe bullied, they'll be different,” she said. 

“And especially if you're in a small rural school and there's only one or two children that want to get out of the class or get another subject, which is not possible at the moment. 

“So, parents leave their children in the class.” 

Ms Donnelly also claimed that schools fear that the potential impact of more and more families opting their children out of religion classes. 

“We know from parents that a lot of the time it is said that they [schools] are afraid that it will snowball if there is another subject or you can get supervision outside the class and that all children, much more than at present, will want to exercise that right,” she said. 

“And that will put Catholic denominational education at risk. 

“And at second level, it is a state course of religion, but it's not an objective course.”

Main image: Children play in playground of a Roman Catholic National School with a crucifix as Vatican. Picture by: Richard Wayman/Alamy.