Primary schools will be spending less time learning religion, with a new focus on foreign languages and wellbeing, under a new plan.
The move is part of plan to bring through some of the biggest changes to the Irish curriculum in more than two decades.
The Irish Times reports that the plans were recently signed off by the State's advisory body on the curriculum.
It advises that the length of time spent teaching religion to be cut by half an hour a week, from two-and-a-half hours to two hours.
Students would work off a new curriculum on "religion, ethical and multi-belief education", to give pupils a wider perspective on beliefs.
The blueprint is due to be published by Education Minister Norma Foley in early 2023.
Other changes include an emphasis on art and foreign languages from Third Class onwards and more "flexible time" to allow schools to focus on priority areas of learning.
