An end to the Holy Cross School dispute in North Belfast could be in sight, it was claimed tonight.
As First Minister Mr David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Mr Mark Durkan held crisis talks to hammer out an agreement, the chairman of Holy Cross board of governors, Father Aidan Troy hinted a breakthrough could be on the way.
Emerging from a 40-minute meeting at Stormont, Fr Troy praised the joint initiative by the two leaders.
"Certainly they seem to be very well aware of what is happening in our particular area," he said. "I got the impression that should the protest end, I think that there's a lot of work that is going to come into play very, very quickly.
"The protest must end and I think that is one of the great hopes for everybody that if, as seems possible now, that protest ends, then we will begin to see a lot of other work," he added.
A number of buses were laid on by the Belfast Education and Library Board this morning to bring the children and their parents to the school. Only a handful of children took up the offer, with most nationalists opting to walk along the disputed Ardoyne Road past protesters from the loyalist Glenbryn estate.
The First and Deputy First ministers also held separate meetings with North Belfast MP Mr Nigel Dodds, Assembly members and Catholic parents.
A meeting with the loyalist residents from Glenbryn is planned for Thursday.
SDLP Assembly member for the area Mr Alban Maginness described the meeting with the two men as constructive. He was part of an delegation which included two other Assembly members, Mr Gerry Kelly of Sinn Féin and Mr Billy Hutchinson of the Progressive Unionist Party.
Mr Kelly said it was a frank and positive exchange of views.
"Whatever help is available from the Assembly and its departments should be given but the issue can only be resolved through dialogue at community level," he said.
A spokesman for the Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan described the meetings as "useful".
PA