It is understood the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) is still working on an economic appraisal in support of its plan to create a new all-abilities school on the site of St MacNissi's College at Garron Tower, which would entail closure of both St Comgall's College in Larne and St Aloysius High School, Cushendall.

Until the appraisal is complete both the CCMS development plan and the North Eastern Education and Library Board's less than enthusiastic response will be withheld from the minister's office.

St Comgall's College Support Group applied for sight of the economic appraisal in March and has formally complained to the Information Commissioner for Northern Ireland that the request was not granted.

The parents' group continued lobbying at a number of levels in the past week. A delegation met the permanent secretary at the Department of Education, Will Haire, last Tuesday and secretary Alan O'Shea had talks with MP Sammy Wilson.

Mr O'Shea described the contact with Mr Haire was "a major step in this whole process".

Although the content of the meeting is subject to confidentiality, the lobby group went to Dundonald House seeking a commitment that the Department will demand the economic appraisal includes a costing for the provision of fit-for-purpose temporary accommodation at Garron Tower.

The parents said beforehand that they would also seek clarification from both the Department of Education and CCMS of the immediate to medium-term future of St. Comgall's College. Mr O'Shea said, "This uncertainty is not conducive to the cross-community education collaboration currently enjoyed by St Comgall's and Larne High School."

He added, "It has been further revealed that this coming academic year Larne Grammar School will join this collaboration in a trilateral arrangement and offer a wider range of subjects to both St. Comgall's College and Larne High School - space permitting."