Early learning answer to social problems

YOUR report and editorial (May 14) on funding preschool education for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who leave school early highlights a very important issue at this time.

If we are to get out of the depression and hold our own in a competitive world in future, we have to make sure all are educated to the highest level possible.

We could save billions, for example, by not digging a needless and highly disruptive tunnel to Dublin airport to accommodate a metro.

Spending the money thus saved in funding preschool education for pupils who now leave school early could, according to your report, reduce social welfare payments by €9.9bn a year in addition to savings on health and crime.

Its real plus, however, is that the economy, and indeed society as a whole, benefits from the fact that a group of people are enabled to increase their incomes, their contribution to civil society and their life prospects as a result of their longer participation in education.

Anthony Leavy

Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13