The break-up of the group which represents secondary school parents appeared more likely last night after Catholic parents demanded separate recognition from the Department of Education.
The Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSPA) said it is ready to take legal action against the Minister for Education to vindicate its rights.
The move by the CSPA follows the weekend resignation of its spokesperson, Ms Barbara Johnston from the National Parents Council - post primary.
In her letter of resignation, Ms Johnston complained it was impossible to get these groups to agree on one coherent policy.
Yesterday, the CSPA said it was tired of the "token partnership" in which the Department of Education only recognises the parents' council as the voice of secondary school parents.
The council represents parents on various Department committees and expert groups.
The CSPA said the parents of children in Catholic schools must be allowed to participate fully in all committees where decisions "about the education of our children occur. It is no longer acceptable that our parents are not represented in the development of curriculum and policies that affect our students. CSPA will take whatever steps necessary to secure those rights".
At a weekend meeting of the parents' council she won a vote of confidence by nine votes to seven, but opted to vacate her position after criticism from the group representing Christian Brothers schools.
Some of the constituent groups of the parents council have been uneasy with Ms Johnston's high-profile.
For her part, Ms Johnston, has been impatient with the conservative approach of the council.
The parents' council is not directly elected by parents associations in schools. Instead, it is made up of nominees from five groups representing Catholic schools, minority religions, Christian Brothers schools, vocational schools and the community and comprehensive sector.
In her letter of resignation, Ms Johnston writes : " I am sick and tired of the constant criticism focused in my direction. I became a part of a parent association to develop a sense of satisfaction at making a contribution - not a sense of paranoia.
"I find myself wondering before I go into each meeting just where the next attack is going to come from . . . I have come to believe that it may be impossible for the five national organisations to work together".
Traditionally, the parents council has been a low-key and very cautious body which has been very slow to criticise the teacher unions or the Department of Education.
Ms Johnston changed all of this last year when in an article in The Irish Times she compared striking teachers to "terrorists". The article - published at the height of the ASTI dispute - caused a furore and led to very strained relations between the council and the ASTI.