Dargavel families have welcomed a commitment by education secretary Jenny Gilruth to meet with them and hear first hand their concerns about education provision.
Ms Gilruth last week vowed to listen to parents affected by the schools scandal, which saw Dargavel Primary built to accommodate only one third of the children who eventually will require a place.
The Paisley Daily Express revealed earlier this year how new analysis of projected school rolls revealed a possible 1,500 would require a place at the school.
Opened just 17 months ago, the school near Bishopton currently has a maximum capacity of 530.
A new school, together with extensions to the associated Park Mains High School in Erskine, will cost Renfrewshire Council £75 million to build and £160m in borrowing.
The education secretary told a recent meeting of the Scottish Parliament that she would look into the issue.
Answering a question raised by West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby, Ms Gilruth said: “Neil Bibby raised an important local issue in relation to school provision in Renfrewshire and Dargavel.
"I give him an undertaking that I will meet him and the parents affected. I know that he has written to me on this matter and met the previous cabinet secretary on the issue.”
The parent-teacher council at Dargavel Primary School – which previously confirmed it no longer has confidence in Renfrewshire Council to resolve the crisis – says it hopes the Scottish Government will take a greater role in finding a solution.
Chair Alan Kelly said another meeting with the Scottish Government is required as the investigations which were ongoing when he met former education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville have now been completed.
He said: “We met Shirley-Anne Somerville just before Christmas. At that time, it was clear there was an issue with the school roll at the primary school. What wasn’t clear was how bad it was going to be; we didn’t know what the numbers would be like.
“It was easy for the government to say that too; that education was a devolved matter and that Renfrewshire Council is moving forward with getting those numbers confirmed and until that has happened there’s nothing more we can do.
“The situation has changed significantly since then. The numbers are clear, as is the cost, and there is no way that Renfrewshire Council can cover that £160m.
“As of June 9, we know there is no site identified and no plans nailed down but we know the new school needs to open by 2025.
“We are trying to get the Scottish Government involved because an issue that was urgent before Christmas is now an emergency.”
The parents demand for both practical and financial support from the Scottish Government has been backed by Mr Bibby who has raised the issue numerous times in Holyrood.
He said: "Families are asking how long it will take for the other schools that need to be built to get built. They are also asking what other services, including education services, will have to be cut in order to pay for the failure.
"If families and taxpayers do not have confidence in Renfrewshire Council, I do not see why the Scottish Government should.
"Parents in Dargavel want a commitment from the cabinet secretary for education and skills that she will have a discussion with them and for action to follow from that. In Renfrewshire, there are major obstacles that stand in the way of achieving anything relating to the national discussion for education.
"No child should lose out because of the council’s incompetence.”
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
