State secondary schools are not implementing a directive from the Department of Education requiring them to timetable alternative tuition for students who opt out of religion due to a lack of resources.

The circular applies to State-run schools, such as community schools or those run by Education and Training Boards (ETBs), which account for about half of secondary schools or 160,000 pupils.

However, according to the Irish Times, new documents show most State schools are not implementing the circular on the basis that they do not have resources to provide alternative tuition.

ETB schools, for example, were recently directed by their umbrella body to “maintain the status-quo in relation to the provision of religious education and opting-out arrangements”.

Nessa White, general secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland, confirmed that the umbrella body’s advice saying “our schools have not been provided with any additional resources to provide alternative classes to students who opt out. Our schools cater for these students to the best of their ability with the resources currently available to them.”

The campaign group Atheist Ireland said the failure of State schools to implement these measures means non-religious students are being discriminated against. “The practical application of maintaining the status quo means students who exercise their constitutional and human right not to attend religious teaching cannot access another optional subject,” said Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland.