Sir, – Your front page report (“Ministers still battling for bigger budget allocations,” October 1st) underscores the fiscal tug-of-war within Government, but the real casualties are our children, our teachers and our schools.

Ireland now has some of the most overcrowded classrooms in Europe. The latest data shows that almost 420,000 children in primary and special education, or nearly 80 per cent of all pupils, are in classes larger than the EU average of 19 pupils per class. These numbers are not abstract. They reduce quality of instruction and compromise curriculum implementation.

To bring our system more in line with Europe, a modest two-pupil reduction in class sizes this year would require 750 retained or new posts.

Such a change would enable teachers to respond more effectively to diverse pupil needs, implement the redeveloped curriculum with integrity, and offer better support to children with additional learning needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A two point reduction in the primary teachers’ staffing schedule is especially critical for rural schools, many of which teeter on the edge of viability, where the loss of even a single mainstream post can trigger larger classes and reconfiguration.

This Government has repeatedly committed to reducing class sizes. Failure to act now would be a breach of trust with teachers, parents and the electorate.

There is still time to do the right thing. Deliver smaller class sizes and bring Ireland’s classroom conditions closer to the benchmark our children deserve. – Yours, etc,

AIDAN GAUGHRAN,

Clonmel,

Co Tipperary.

Back slapping and MetroLink

Sir, – I expect all sorts of back slapping and self-congratulatory messages from our Government representatives over the next few days following the announcement that MetroLink has received the go ahead (“MetroLink rail line gets green light,” October 2nd). I can already see some gleeful announcements on our local Facebook pages.

I think our media has a responsibility to temper this glee with a reminde