Madam, - For a Minister of Education - who has already shown herself to be fond of gimmicks - to sending the gift of a book "with a note from the Minister" to every newborn in the State at a reported cost of €400,000 is a new low (The Irish Times, April 11th).
Of course reading is a fundamental skill. Of course children and their parents should be encouraged to take up and foster the habit. However, this report came a day after primary school managers highlighted the average €20,000 debt they carry. The expenditure reported would pay off the overdraft for 20 of our primary schools. Instead, parents in every county are reduced to fundraising on the streets to pay school electricity and water bills.
At the same time the pupil-teacher ratio is going in the wrong direction, in direct contradiction of undertakings given by Ms Hanafin and others.
The Minister and her Department should look to their priorities. Of course, this prompts the question: Is the number-one priority for this particular Department the creation of photo and other publicity opportunities for the Minister of Education? - Yours, etc,
SEAMUS McKENNA, Farrenboley Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14.