Three children at a primary school in Galway will have no concerns about class sizes or teacher-to-children ratios as the new school term got under way today.
A boycott by local parents has meant that three Traveller children have the school at Ballinruane near Menlough in Co Galway to themselves.
A substitute teacher confirmed that classes had gone ahead this morning but declined to be interviewed on the issue.
Last week the Department of Education confirmed the three children were the only ones enrolled in St Joseph's National School and that the teaching staff had been halved, from two to just one.
Parents of 12 children withdrew them in protest at the enrollment of eight Traveller children last year on the basis that the school population had almost doubled as a result.
The parents said although they recognised and supported the rights of Travellers living in the community to an education in St Joseph's, they were worried about the school's future.
The situation remained unresolved and the protesting parents then pulled their children from the school and sent them to other schools in the area.
The long-term future of the school only becomes an issue next year, as under regulations closure only arises if enrolment falls below eight pupils over two years running.