Madam, - I don't think Fianna Fáil Deputy Chief Whip Billy Kelleher should rush to include the reduction in primary school class sizes as a big plus for his Government (May 11th). Fianna Fáil's 2002 election manifesto included a promise to have children under nine taught in classes of fewer than 20. Three years on this Government is nowhere near meeting that target and the Minister has quietly shelved it.
Last week in the Dáil I asked Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin about class sizes in my constituency. She reluctantly admitted there were 100 classes with more than 30 children, a very far cry indeed from classes under 20.
Is that true in Mr Kelleher's Cork constituency as well - and if so, is he boasting to his constituents about it? - Yours, etc,
JOAN BURTON TD, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.