Each year there is on average one complaint for every thousand schools involving non-Catholic children who feel excluded in Catholic primary schools.

This comes despite a rampant belief that such exclusion is widespread.

In response to a press enquiry, the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) said they received “less than five” such complaints in the last two years.

The CPSMA oversees more than 2,800 primary schools.

They field up to 17,000 inquiries every year from parents, teachers and management on a broad range of issues from staff relations, behaviours of concern, admissions and opt-outs.

David Quinn quoted the figures in his Sunday Independent column at the weekend.