A planning application to extend a multi-denominational school in Castleknock, Co Dublin, is being opposed by the parents' association of a Catholic primary school nearby.
The parents in the Catholic school claim the extension is earmarked for land given to the local community by the parish priest. They claim it was not intended to be used by pupils from outside the area who will be attending the multi-denominational school.
They also claim that children from the multi-denominational school would cause a "serious disturbance" by playing on tennis courts near their school.
Traffic congestion would also be increased if the multi-denominational school received permission, the parents' group claimed.
This is among a range of objections submitted to Fingal County Council by the parents' association of Cairde Scoil Thomais, which has approximately 900 pupils.
A local residents' group has also objected to the application on visual and traffic grounds.
The objections follow a public meeting last year at which local groups objected to the school on the basis that it was using facilities earmarked for them. This is because the multi-denominational school is currently housed in the hall of a local community centre.
However, a spokeswoman for the school said yesterday that most of the people in the area were supportive. She said the school needed a permanent site, but the Department of Education had failed to provide one. Consequently it had been forced to extend into temporary accommodation.
The school, Castleknock Educate Together National School (CETNS), wants to build two further classrooms beside the community centre. It currently has two classrooms in the main hall of the community centre catering for 34 pupils. This will rise to 100 in September.
The board of management of the school denied that most of its pupils would be from outside the Castleknock area, and said that about 70 per cent would be local.
The spokeswoman for CETNS said the facilities would be temporary until it found a long-term site. The Department of Education is currently considering two sites, Beech Park and Castlethorn.
In a letter to Fingal County Council Ms Anne Lynch, chairwoman of the Cairde Scoil Thomais, said: "The development would be totally inconsistent with the proper planning and development of the site and surrounding area. The site belongs to the local community and its designated usage is for local community use in the context of the community centre."
Mr Bob Martin, chairman of the patrons of CETNS, said: "We are not in competition with denominational schools in the area, we are supplying choice. But we need permanent recognition from the Department and a proper site which gives us a secure future."