Sir, - The opportunity to invest heavily in Education and Health thanks to a budget surplus should not lightly be ignored.
The primary school sector remains seriously under-funded. Class sizes are huge by European standards. There is a serious lack of educational psychologists. Early intervention for children experiencing social and psychological difficulties is insignificant. The bill is paid later in the courts, prisons and hospitals. Facilities for physical development are quite poor. Few Irish primary school children have access to a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a running track or anything other than the school yard and football pitch (summer time). Children from areas of social deprivation fare very badly, as fund-raising usually provides whatever facilities exist in the better-off communities.
The lack of interest in teaching among young people choosing a career is particularly worrying.
Irish people value education and recognise the need for investment in the system. The Minister for Finance has a golden opportunity to spend wisely and put the primary school sector on top of his priority list. The investment will pay off. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Tom Kelleher, Highfield Downs, Swords, Co Dublin.