My dd17 wants to opt out of religion class this coming year (leaving cert - she wants to study instead). I've no problem with that as we're all atheists and I've always left it up to them whether they want to attend or not.
It's a voluntary secondary school, so originally a convent school, now a Ceist school, so very much catholic. I understand the new requirement for state schools to provide alternative subjects to those opting out of religion does not apply to voluntary schools so I'm not sure how best to approach this and am wondering does anyone have any experience they would be willing to share.
From what I've read, she has a constitutional right to opt-out but the practice in voluntary schools tends to be that they must stay in the classroom and are not allowed study or do homework in case it gives them an unfair advantage over those opting in 
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The school policy is that students must be signed in or out by a parent so unless I can pick her up and drop her back (not possible due to work), she can't leave the school, although I may argue that she should be allowed sign herself out once she is 18.