I think it is a great idea to keep the schools open. We are in a non-denominational building

Margaret Mallyn Easterhouse parent

There were more than 200 written responses, including three petitions, one with 962 signatures, another with 470 and a third with 130.

The council's plan has been backed by the EIS, the main teachers' union, which said it accepts action is needed to tackle plunging pupil numbers and a �100m repair bill.

Education chiefs say some schools are in such a poor state of repair that they are facing problems under health and safety laws.

Legally obliged

Councillor Bob Gray, convener of the city council's education services committee, said there was a fall in roll in most of the peripheral estates in the city.

He told BBC Scotland it was not true to say the move was deliberately targeting Catholic schools.

"If Catholic parents want Catholic education, then we are obliged to provide those schools," Cllr Gray said.

Pupils will suffer for the move, some parents say

"The new consultation document going through today advocates a new build on the St Leonard's site of the three schools coming together."

But parents in those areas have voiced concerns about the council's plans.

One parent in Easterhouse, Margaret Mallyn, said the status quo should be preserved and there was no need for any upheaval.

She said: "I think it is a great idea to keep the schools open. We are in a non-denominational building.

Move 'flawed'

"Two schools share the one building and our kids integrate.

"They are shown videos about sectarianism - so why take a Catholic school out of a non-denominational building that kids share all the time, and is in the local area?

"The council has to look at every school in this area and ask themselves what they can do to help."

Another parent, Margaret Davis, said she believed the move was flawed since all the children shared the amenities.

"The services are all together so why take that away from them?

"Every school in the area is sitting half-full so why target ours?

"The council is still going to spend the same money whether there are one or two schools in the building - so there is no justification for it."