A Galway primary school which was at the centre of a row about enrolment of Traveller children last year is due to reopen next week with just three pupils.
The Department of Education and Science confirmed yesterday that three Traveller children have enrolled for St Joseph's National School in Ballinruane, Menlough, Co Galway. The school staff has been halved from two teachers to one - this being the current principal. "We have no other children on the enrolment list," a Department spokeswoman said.
The school operated with five pupils for most of the past academic year after parents of 12 pupils staged a boycott, and then withdrew their children and placed them in other schools in the area. The parents objected to the enrolment of eight Traveller children on the basis that the school population almost doubled as a result.
The board of management closed the school for two days in response to the objections - understood to have been led by one resident. One of the Traveller families then left the area temporarily. When it emerged that the school could find itself in breach of equal status legislation, 10 of the 12 children returned to the school, and their parents said they wanted guarantees regarding the enrolment of Travellers.
In a prepared statement, the parents then said 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 situation deteriorated, the board of management did not seek any assistance from the Department of Education and Science, and the protesting parents pulled their children out altogether. The 12 were sent to two other schools in the area.
Two of the five Traveller children who attended throughout last year have now reached second-level stage and three will continue at Ballinruane, the Department said yesterday. However, the long-term future of the school will not become an issue until next year, a spokeswoman said. Under current regulations, closure only arises if enrolment falls below eight pupils over two consecutive years.
St Joseph's National School at Ballinruane was founded in 1905, and its principal, Ms Bríd Connolly, had taught there for over 35 years when the row erupted last year. The Department has made it clear that its policy is one of integration, and the Irish Traveller Movement has congratulated it on its stance.
