By Michelle Crean

RIGHT DECISION: Minister for Education and Kerry TD Norma Foley says the right decision was made.

It came close to the wire on Wednesday morning as devastated Ukrainian mothers and their children had their bags packed and were ready to board the bus to Mayo.

The day before, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, headed by Minister Roderic O'Gorman TD, said that the move would be going ahead. However, with an hour or so before the bus would be leaving Killarney Minister Norma Foley announced that the decision was being reversed.

She said she "welcome's the decision" of her cabinet colleague Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

"This is the right decision," she said. "I think it's hugely important where we have families from the Ukraine who were so well integrated into our communities that we afford them every opportunity to continue to grow and nurture those ties they have made with local communities. I particularly want to acknowledge all that's being achieved in Kerry and in this instance, Killarney, to welcome Ukrainian families.

She also thanked the school communities who, she said, "are doing so much to welcome and to integrate Ukrainian families into our local communities and our local schools".