Sir, – It’s that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness again, where the sound of the ubiquitous leaf blower is never far away.
Indeed, I recently observed an employee of a public body diligently blowing the fallen leaves through the railings from “their” property out onto the public footpath beyond.
I’m sure that the individual concerned considered it a job well done. Nevertheless, in this small cameo I could not but reflect on the wide spectrum of provision of public goods and services, in too many cases ineffective, inefficient and at an unacceptable cost to the taxpayer.
It goes without saying that more than a few new leaves need to be turned over to address the many, deeply rooted underlying issues in this area.
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I suggest that your readers ask some pointed questions in this space of their current and aspiring public representatives when they come knocking at their door, but please do not accept any hot-air responses. – Yours, etc,
LORCAN BROPHY,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.