Sir, - There can be little doubt that one of the main factors that contributed to the fall from power of the outgoing Minister for Education was the manner in which the teaching unions cast continual scorn upon her, even though both Ms Bhreathnach and the Government delivered so much. As always in the mind set of teaching unions, so much is never enough.
Never before has education been so generously resourced and never before have the teaching unions been given such influence in deciding how best the resources should be used. But, as our recent history shows us, the teaching unions are never happy no matter what additional resources they receive from government, and Ms Breathnach was always going to be in their line of fire no matter what she did or how she did it.
I believe that this country has lost a very effective and efficient Minister for Education who gave perhaps too much to those who are incapable of appreciating a good thing when they have it. Yours, etc.,
Herberton Drive,
Rialto,
Dublin 12.