A chara, – One can’t help but feel sympathy for those people in the Aughnacurra housing estate in Co Galway whose homes may be demolished on foot of a compulsory purchase order (“Galway residents rail against the ring road”, News, November 25th). There are unavoidable situations where citizens are asked to make enormous personal sacrifices for the common good, but how ironic that the State proposes to demolish homes to build a motorway during a housing and climate crisis.
Demolishing homes at this time would be an act of national vandalism. If we had our priorities right, we would instead compulsorily purchase vacant land and houses for the rapid provision of social and affordable homes. Even if we must hasten the process by abrogating property rights for the common good, wouldn’t that be a sacrifice worth making? – Is mise,
TADHG Ó RUADHÁN,
Baile Átha Cliath 8.