Madam, - Richard Tol (Opinion & Analysis, January 16th) is correct in saying we have far too many economics departments in Ireland, given our small population. This is true also in other fields. For instance, a typical engineering department in Ireland is less than half the size of a corresponding department in the UK or continental Europe, which prevents us from achieving our potential, and there are several new architecture departments in the country.
Rather than seeking more co-operation between departments, we need to shut many of them down to allow centres of excellence to grow. And let's please stop opening new programmes. - Yours, etc,
EUGENE O'BRIEN, Professor of Civil Engineering, UCD, Dublin 4.