Fewer Irish people can speak a foreign language than in most European countries, as the Government stops teaching languages to 27,500 primary pupils.

Sangria of the non-alcoholic variety flowed and tapas were the order of the day as girls at a Cork school toasted an award for their Spanish programme.

WE, the undersigned, are writing in protest at the recent decision of the Government in the budget to abolish the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative (MLPSI).