Madam, - Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, May 20th) seems to suggest that, because Ireland's public sector is relatively small (approximately 35 per cent of GDP), it is lean and efficient. But the relative size of a public sector in an economy is not an indicator its effectiveness. France, for example, has a relatively big public sector (well over 40 per cent of GDP), but by common agreement delivers great value under most headings (health, education, transport, etc). No wonder the French public fiercely resists attempts to pare it back.
Ireland's public sector, on the other hand, is smaller relative to the whole economy but clearly has huge problems of duplication, fragmentation, and over-elaboration, as the recent OECD report concluded. Consequently it under-performs in delivering value.
Surely Fintan O'Toole's respected and authoritative voice should promote rather than diminish clarity in the vital debate on budgetary policy and public sector reform. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL BOLAND, Aglish, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.