Reopen our schools now or risk a new Easter rising

IT IS time to reopen schools. The WHO, NPHET, medics and mental health groups, among others, all agree that long-term school closure plays havoc with society. After the prolonged closure from the first lockdown it was acknowledged that keeping schools closed was a mistake – especially in the case of special needs schools – and yet here we are again. Special needs schools are essential in all but name. Maybe it’s time for that to change.

Since the dramatic lockdown announcement on March 12 last year, 48 weeks ago, our schools have only been open for 15 weeks. Fifteen out of 48 weeks. That may possibly be the shortest amount of school time in the world, What do you think that is doing to the country’s children? To families? It’s a scandal. And the treatment of children with special needs is also unforgivable.

All schools, primary, postprimary and special needs must be fully open by the second week of March. Children need structure in their lives and they need something to look forward to. There is not much of that at the moment.

But at least if they are settled back to school they can look forward to the Easter holidays, not just another break from remote learning. Let me say motivation in that area is decreasing rapidly. Schools need to open. The talking should be done.

Deirdre Kiernan, Straffan, Co. Kildare.

Taking a jab at Foley

HAS it occurred to Norma Foley that if the Leaving Cert students and their ‘in person’ adjudicators received the Covid injections, then maybe it could go ahead safely.

Sally Devine, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

Give elderly freedom

I CAN’T understand why people are not allowed to travel around the country in the privacy of their own cars. My wife and I are both retired and restricted to our home. We can go shopping to our local supermarkets and mingle with other customers at arm’s length, yet we are not allowed to go to holy Mass, receive the Blessed Sacrament, or travel around the country to see our children and grandchildren. Is it any wonder the elderly are lonely and depressed?

Jimmy Carroll, Cork city.

Healy-Raes are right

I CONCUR totally with Mary Carr’s article (MoS, Feb. 14) outlining how the Healy-Rae voters in Kerry don’t give a hoot about class.

Perversely in criticising the Healy-Raes, Duncan Smith TD may have made them even more popular among their Kerry constituents.

The Healy-Raes, for instance, have always elevated patronage and personal connection. Their philosophy of hard work is their political raison d’être.

Their approach to issues no matter how big or small whether it be phone bills, internet connection, cataract surgery, medical card procurement, heating bills etc is to be of service to their constituents.

It’s my view that the politics of personally attacking your opponents will never deliver any real party political improvement.

This strategy is always going to be divisive and, if continued, may very well signal the future weakening or even disappearance of the Labour Party from the

Irish political landscape.

It has always been my belief that a cat may have nine lives but a shrewd politician has a hundred lives. Something that our Labour neophyte might like to reflect on.

John O’Brien, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny.

Stop vulture’s swoop

ULSTER BANK is about to pull out of the Irish market amid fears its loan book will be snapped up by vulture funds. There has been speculation for months that Cerberus, one of the most aggressive vulture funds in this State, is circling Ulster Bank’s entire €20.5bn loan book.

The State remains a key player in the Irish banking sector with a 1% stake in Bank of Ireland and a majority shareholding in both AIB and Permanent TSB, and must play a key role if the worst comes to the worst. We must not buckle under pressure by any means, and protect mortgage holders, businesses, personal customers and all the workers employed by Ulster Bank.

Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Look into RTÉ sale

WHERE has the money gone to from the sale of part of the RTÉ lands at Montrose?

Surely it has not gone to pay those top-earning ‘broadcasters’ at that station.

Why does the Government not want to hold an inquiry into what’s going on here? The taxpayer has a right to know where this money has gone to.

Edward Mahon, Clonskeagh, D.14.