Sir - May I add a footnote to the excellent two articles (July 23rd and 24th) in which TCD Provost Thomas Mitchell outlined ideas, based on TCD experiments, to improve third-level access for youngsters in low-income areas?
Specifically, I have in mind the idea that "student volunteers from the (third-level) institution acting as mentor would serve as tutors working alongside primary school teachers". I suggest that that suggestion needs to be supplemented by this one: aside from those too impaired physically to be so, no one would be allowed to leave primary school to go on to second level without a literacy and numeracy certificate, even if that meant repeating the final primary school year again and again to succeed. Because that does not obtain now, there is little or no incentive for poorly-motivated youngsters in those areas to use their eight years, provided at public expense, to be literate and numerate by the age of seventeen or so.
The tutors Provost Mitchell has in mind would help primary teachers to get that result for all their pupils, particularly those who must repeat. I suspect that a high proportion of them would succeed at first attempt, if only because of the peer pressure which rates being "kept back" poorly.
The immediate aim of gaining access to second-level at first attempt means far, far more than the distant aim of gaining third-level. Besides, L & N Certificate would make youngsters employable and promising material for on-the-job learning and part-time study.
Some time ago I wrote to the Education Minister, Michael Martin, when he was Opposition education spokesperson, suggesting that such a certificate, with related repeating if necessary, be considered for all primary-school pupils and not just for those in low-income and areas. It is well-known that large numbers from high-income homes are under-performing and suffering stress in second-level schools (and indeed at university) due to defective literacy and numeracy. Mr Martin said he would think about the idea.
Now that he has the opportunity to do something - the cost of which would be zero, save our Exchequer millions, and would not need trips to Brussels - perhaps he would let us know the results of his cogitations. - Yours, etc.,
Joe Foyle
Sandford Road, Dublin 6.
Drivers with mobile phones Sir, - A study in the New England Journal of Medicine states that the risks of a motor collision is quadrupled when a mobile phone is used while driving (Irish Times, April 18th). Ms Cait Keane of the Progressive Democrats says that the use of a mobile phone while driving is "a recipe for accident and death" (Irish Times, March 6th). On two occasions I have been almost rammed by car drivers who were obviously concentrating more on the phone conversations than on their driving.
With an alarming death rate on our roads, and in fairness to those who make an honest attempt to drive safely, it is incumbent upon any government to ban the use of mobile phones while a driver is in charge of a moving vehicle.
If our politicians fail to come to come to grips with the problem, then surely motor insurers can contribute towards curbing this dangerous practice.
It is basic to all insurance that an increase in risk means an increase in premium. There are many things which will quickly result in an increase in premium - for example, if my car is stolen and it is shown that the car alarm was not activated, then my policy is null and void. For as long as politicians continue to ignore this problem, then on an actuarial basis those drivers who increase the risk for the rest of us must be made to pay for the privilege through their motor insurance. - Yours, etc.,
Douglas McCowen
Templeville Road, Dublin 6W
Homosexuality and Buddhism Sir, - Further to the Dalai Lama's recent comments on homosexuality: This is not the Buddhist position at all. The outlook of many Buddhists, particularly those of the Western Buddhist Order, is that not only gay sex present no obstacle to spiritual growth and development, but it might also make spiritual life easier because there is, perhaps, less likelihood of nuerotic projection onto a sexual partner of the same sex. - Yours, etc.,
D.H.Sanghapala,Chairman
Dublin Meditation Centre
Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Women Playwrights' Conference Sir, - Uinsionn MacDubhgaill's "Out of the West" report (June 30th) on the Fourth International Women Playwright's Conference in Galway was misleadingly headlined to indicate that Irish women playwrights got "stage fright" and did not support the event. Among the Irish women playwrights whose courage showed no signs of deserting them, and who contributed richly, were Ivy Bannister, Patricia Burke Brogan, Margaretta Darcy, Emma Donoghue, Miriam Gallagher, Anne Le Marquand Hartigan, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Nesta Twomey, to mention a mere selection of names.
Irish Times readers might be interested to know that the conference was privileged to have as guest of honour Mary Manning, eminent playwright, critic and esteemed contributor to this newspaper. -Yours, etc.,
Cathy Leeney
UCD Drama Studies Centre
Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Sponsored walk Sir, - The Irish Heart Foundation has a limited number of places still available for this year's overseas sponsored walk in Argentina from October 7th to 21st.
Not only is this an opportunity to raise vital funds for the organisation, but also a chance to visit Argentina, one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Information is available from the Irish Heart Foundation, 4 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Telephone 01-6685001 or (Cork office) 021-505822. - Yours etc,.
Barbara Green, project leader
Irish Heart Foundation, Duhlin 4.
IBEC and electricity Sir - Last week there appeared a new economic phenomenon which has yet to be named. It was contained in IBEC's interpretation of its own report on the de-regulation of the electricity market. IBEC argued (both on Morning Ireland, July 17th and at its press conference on the same day) that more competition in the energy supply sector would increase prices and even lead to a scarcity of supply. If true, this would confuse competitive business as to why the prices and margins are declining in the face of increased competition!
The logic of the IBEC theory is that the government should limit competitive forces. Surely, when an organisation proposes daft arguments, these should be exposed for what they are.
Currently, Irish-owned small and medium enterprises pay among the highest prices for energy supply in the EU. Only by opening up the Irish market to the competition will the ESB be forced to radically alter its monopolistic and inefficient practices. - Yours, etc,.
Frank Mulcahy, chief executive
Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Dublin 2
Second World War aircraft A chara, - I have been commissioned to produce a record of the first landings and crashes of belligerent aircraft - British, German and American - in neutral Ireland during the second world war. Official records show 163 incidents, but there appears to have been over 200, including those aircraft which fell into territorial waters.
I am anxious to obtain personal reminiscences of as many as possible, including, of course, any photographs that may exist. I appreciate that photography was difficult because film was hard to come by and the taking of photographs was positively frowned upon by the authorities. Nevertheless, surreptitious photography did take place - indeed, I was a culprit myself!
Most of the aircraft involved were dismantled by salvage teams from the Air Corps and other Army units, and I would like to hear from those who were involved in this work.
Any photographs and other material lent would be copied and returned promptly, and, of course due acknowledgement would be given in the book - Is Mise,
Donal M. MacCarron
4 The Chyne, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 8HZ, England