The Department of Education and Science is reviewing the future of the east Galway national school which was at the centre over a row over enrolment of Traveller children last month.
The Department told The Irish Times that talks were taking place with the board of management of St Joseph's National School in Ballinruane on its long-term future. Following the closure of the school for two days at the beginning of term last month, children of local residents have been relocated by their parents to neighbouring schools.
It is understood eight children have been sent to one local school, and four to another. This has left five Traveller children in the two-teacher school, which was founded in 1905. The principal, Ms Br∅d Connolly, who has been in the school for 35 years, said she was unable make an official comment. The Department of Education and Science said it was concerned about the low level of enrolment, and its concentration. "Our policy is one of integration," a spokesman said.
The controversy over Ballinruane arose at the beginning of the term when parents boycotted the school in protest at the proposed enrolment of Traveller children. The board of management closed the school for two days in response to the objections - under stood to have been led by one resident - to the enrolment of eight children from two Traveller families.
One of the Traveller families left the area temporarily. When it emerged that the school could find itself in breach of equal status legislation, 10 of the 12 residents' children returned to the school. The resident parents said they wanted guarantees regarding the enrolment of Travellers.
In a prepared statement, the parents said that they recognised and supported the rights of Travellers living in the community to an education in the local school, but were worried about the school's future. However, the board of management did not seek any assistance from the Department of Education and Science, and the residents subsequently withdrew their children altogether.
Mr Fintan Farrell of the Irish Traveller Movement said yesterday the loss of a school represented a loss to any community. "There must be a lot of other issues that are driving the parents in this direction in Ballinruane," he said. "If the school closes, the Traveller parents will also be looking for alternatives for their children, and so the pupils may end up being educated together anyway."
Mr Farrell congratulated the Department of Education and Science for its clear stance.
