Sir, - Allow me to be so bold as to offer some advice to Mr Higgins of Blessington, Co Wicklow, who has objected to his sons having to learn Irish on the premise that it was "of no benefit to them".
Independent population studies have found that bilingual children or those taught a second language from a young age consistently do better at school than those who are not. Failing that, I might direct him to words of wisdom from my grandmother, who often said "education is no waste".
Might I also suggest that parents who want a private education to an α la carte curriculum have a constitutional right to it in the home. - Yours, etc.,
Aoife Hegarty, Eaton Wood Grove, Shankill, Co Dublin.