Is one extra corncrake or Bertie better value?

YOUR Page One article (August 27) nearly took my breath away, regarding the cost to the taxpayer of one corncrake, together with a photo of the bird.

The Department of Arts and Heritage spent €382,000 increasing our male corncrake population by one, for this year. Then we were told that Bertie Ahern cost us €272,000 a year, including mobile phone (€7,500), together with photo also. He also got a salary of €100k and a pension of €150k.

That makes €904,000 for the two — Bertie and the corncrake. Now, which gave us the best value for money for the year? (allowing for the fact that the corncrake had no mobile phone expenses!)