Proposals to hold a series of nationwide consultations, restricted to parents of second-level students, are under consideration by the Department of Education and Science.
The consultations, outlined in a letter to parents from the Department last month, would aim to discuss how to increase parental representation at national and school level.
But in a move which has drawn criticism from primary school parents' representatives, parents of children at primary level will not be invited to the meetings.
A spokeswoman for the Department said this was because there were issues in relation to representation at post-primary level which were not present at primary level. This relates to a split between the National Parents' Council (post-primary) (NPC)(pp) and the Congress of Catholic Secondary School Parent Associations (CSPA), which has left the NPC (pp).
One education source suggested that the decision to hold the consultations was an attempt by the Department to appease the CSPA, which is unhappy about its lack of representation in decision-making.
While the consultations will be similar in format to the Your Education System (YES) meetings which took place earlier this year, they will be separate to the process itself. Initiated by former Minister for Education and Science, Mr Noel Dempsey, it is estimated to have cost some €627,000 to date.
Under the proposals, between four and six Saturday and evening meetings, chaired by an independent person or persons, would be held in locations throughout the country. The chairperson would then be asked to present a report following the conclusion of the series of meetings.
Although the proposed new consultation process was currently being examined at official level, no formal proposals have been issued to the new Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin, the Department spokeswoman added.
Ms Barbara Johnston, of the CSPA, said she welcomed the new meetings. "Anything that brings the awareness of parental representation to the forefront is a good thing."