Parents in Menlough, east Galway, who had been keeping their children at home in a row allegedly over the admission of Travellers, presented their children for school yesterday.
The decision to return came as it emerged that Ballinruane National School could find itself in breach of the equal status legislation and be open to litigation if Traveller children were refused admission.
Ten of the 12 pupils attending Ballinruane school returned to class yesterday, while their parents issued a statement rejecting suggestions that the protest was against the proposed enrolment of Travellers.
A Traveller, Ms Ann Ward, who left after the dispute began, has returned to the area with her nine children and is hoping to get five into the school.
Parents in the settled community say they are concerned about the future of the two-teacher school and want guarantees regarding the enrolment of Travellers. One parent, Ms Bernadette Waters, said there was "no objection to that [the enrolment of Travellers] at all".
Reading from a prepared statement Ms Waters said: "The parents of Ballinruane National School recognise and support the right of Travellers living in our community to an education in the local school. Travellers have always been accepted in our community.
"However, the community in Ballinruane has had concerns for some time in relation to the future of the national school in the area.
"The parents have decided to return their children to school while they are endeavouring to address these concerns with the Department of Education."
The chief executive officer of the Equality Authority, Mr Niall Crowley, warned that the Equal Status Act explicitly prohibited any discrimination concerning the admission of Travellers to schools. He said it was important to acknowledge that admission policies and procedures could not discriminate against Travellers either directly or indirectly, and Travellers would be free to take a case against a school found in breach of this legislation.
"What is happening in Ballinruane is very disappointing in terms of how far we have to go to build a more inter-cultural society," he said.
