Sir - The veil of secrecy surrounding the proposed National Academy for the Performing Arts is a cause for serious concern to all who care about the future of music education in Ireland. The establishment of a National Academy has far reaching and fundamental implications for the development of music in Ireland. Yet it appears that the decision will be made by Government shortly, without public discussion, ignoring the views of most of those who have propped up the existing system over the years.
The urgent need for a comprehensive and equitable system of music education countrywide has been identified many times, not least in the columns of this newspaper. The truth is that we have failed to provide all our children with opportunities in music "to develop creative and artistic abilities to the individual's full capacity". There appears to be nothing in the present proposals to deliver on this vision, rather it perpetuates entrenched musical exclusion.
I hope in the words taken from Messiah (1742) that "the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped" before the Government, lemming-like, rushes headlong into decisions which will impact adversely on all levels of music education in Ireland for the 21st century. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Ita Beausang, Clontarf, Dublin 3.