Sir, - For many years we have heard about the very high standard of education available in Ireland. This claim, made by vote-hungry politicians, is nonetheless well justified because of the dedication of the teachers who have worked tirelessly, and often voluntarily, to maintain those standards. It is time that the Minister realised that in the present different economic climate all services must be adequately resourced.
Bluntly, if Mr Woods will not pay for it he can't expect to maintain this service. Teachers' pay has never been adequate for the job they do but, in the past, the knowledge that their efforts were appreciated went a long way to keeping the goodwill of the profession. Mr Woods has lost this goodwill; and his personal intransigence and peculiar view of industrial relations serves to make matters worse.
Teaching in Ireland is at a critical stage. Every effort should be made to prevent what has happened in the UK education system occurring in Ireland. The Government can either pay for an excellent education system, or watch while it disintegrates. - Yours, etc.,
Gerard D. Corcoran, FRCPI, FRCPath., Jordanhill, Glasgow.