The Archdiocese of Dublin has postponed a planned parental vote on the changing of patronage at a number of northside schools.
Controversy arose earlier this week after parents received letters from some of the Portmarnock, Malahide and Kinsealy schools claiming that religious holidays may not be celebrated if patronage changed from the current Catholic Church ethos.
The Archdiocese has now written to principals of the schools involved saying the vote would be postponed due to the "confusion and misinformation" surrounding the proposal.
The letter reads: "The Archdiocese recognise that the prospect of change can be difficult and that it is vital that all stakeholders are fully informed of what a change in patronage entails.
"As a result, the Archdiocese believes it would be opportune to postpone the planned vote by parents of the schools until the survey conducted by the Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin Education and Training Board of pre-school parents in the area is published, and available to all concerned.
"The Archdiocese of Dublin is committed to working with the Minister for Education and Skills and his officials, along with other Patron bodies, in providing choice for parents and teachers in the education of our young people.
Calls made for Citizens' Assembly to resolve school patronage row
"The Diocese has successfully divested schools in four other areas and is currently working with two schools who have expressed an interest in changing from Catholic patronage to an alternative Patron body."
Parents of children at the schools involved slammed some media reports that framed their concerns as merely a religious issue.
Several parents highlighted concerns over a lack of clarity as to who the new patron of the schools would be.
Councillors back call for parental consultation on changing of school patronage
Cliodna Gilroy, who has two children at St Marnock's National School, told Dublin Live earlier this week: "We all know that change isn't always a bad thing - but we're not going to vote to change from a school that we know works well for our kids - to something we've been given no information about.
"We'll leave that sort of madness to the Brexiteers."
Local Senator Aodhan O Riordain has called for the Citizens' Assembly to be reconvened in an effort to resolve the issue of school patronage.
