A plan to hand over one of three Catholic schools in the Dublin suburb of Raheny to a new patron has been abandoned following strong opposition from parents and school staff, and lack of support from boards of management. Parents voted by 83pc to 17pc against divestment.

It was one of a number of projects under a Pilot Initiative around the country designed to increase the number of multi-denominational schools.

However, an official report said that the Raheny schools should remain as they are.

Former Department of Education inspector Don Mahon, who was appointed to facilitate the process, concluded that the “process has not provided either the evidential basis or a cross-community agreement for a change in the configuration”.

He said: “It did not prove possible throughout the engagement process to get the different sides to engage in positive discussions that might have yielded outcomes suitable for both sides.”

Mr Mahon found the majority of parents were on the side of retaining the schools as they are.