`Selfish' teachers defended

Both support and censure for the secondary teachers' strike were expressed in the papers. "ASTI claim is outlandish and bizarre", the Dungarvan Leader front-page headline declared, quoting Fianna Fail councillor Mr Kieran O'Ryan, who sought unsuccessfully to have a Waterford County Council meeting "deplore" the teachers' action.

The paper said he accused the teachers of "sowing the seeds of selfishness", while Fine Gael councillor Ms Mary Green, described as an "active member" of the ASTI, "said she would emphatically refute her colleague's astonishing claims and the action being taken by the ASTI is the only one still open to them". "Teachers cannot justify 30 per cent pay demand," stated the Meath Chronicle's editorial. The ASTI's claim that a survey of public attitudes showed 64 per cent of adults saying teachers should be paid more did not mean the public believed teachers were entitled to a pay rise "way in excess of what other private and public sector workers are entitled to within the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness." It also warned that by its "obdurate position" in the dispute, the ASTI "is unlikely to elicit much sympathy from the public in general and parents in particular".

The Donegal Democrat said it was "a shame" that schools had to close because of an "impasse", and the Government should "do something" to ensure that teaching was a profession young people would aspire to. "It is important for our society that teaching does not become downgraded in the way that it has been in Britain and America." Kerry's Eye asked if the ASTI action was a "secretive strike". It said teachers picketing one school refused to comment on the strike, and when the paper contacted Colaiste Phadraig in Castleisland a representative refused to reveal the principal's name and then hung up in mid-conversation.

"Are Kerry's teachers unwilling to speak out on strike action that will deny at least six days of education to thousands of pupils?" the paper asked.

Concern for children's health was paramount in Roscommon and Sligo. Thirty per cent of schools in Co Roscommon were found to contain high radon levels, "with some rooms in schools having as much as eight times the recommended concentration level for the gas," the Roscommon Herald reported. It said the second phase of a national survey by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) showed that Roscommon and Mayo had the highest levels of nine counties surveyed. The Sligo Champion reported that two Sligo schools "are among the highest in the country for radon levels". But it said the RPII considered there was no need for alarm. "The Department of Education would embark on a programme of remedial work very soon," the paper was told.

Christmas may not be coming to Tralee this year, as the Kerryman reported there would be "no lights, no Santa, no parade this Christmas". The paper said "last-ditch efforts" to save Tralee's Christmas Community Programme have failed. It said the president of Tralee Chamber of Commerce had told the paper "it simply doesn't have the cash to fund the celebrations this year", and unless a sponsor came forward with a "generous donation" the usual festivities would be cancelled. There was a "glimmer of hope" for the Christmas lights in Wexford town, according to the Wexford People. It said the festive lighting fund was still "cash short", as commercial ratepayers had been slow to pay up, but it had got "a major shot in the arm after Dunnes Stores said it would pay its £1,500plus light levy". The Chamber of Commerce is now only £5,000 short of the £25,000 needed to secure this year's lights, the paper said.

Daniel O'Donnell wants to be the next James Bond, the Donegal People's Press reported. Since learning that Pierce Brosnan is to leave the role after the next Bond movie, Daniel has "signalled his desire" to go for the job, the paper said.

It quotes the singer as saying: "I'm reasonably fit, pretty agile and whatever I do I give it my all. To give the role a different dimension, I'd ask the producers to write in a couple of songs which I'd sing."