Sir, – Your editorial "A bridge too far?" (September 3rd), in which I am cited, rightly states that bridges are an important element in connecting communities and contributing to the regeneration of areas that have been neglected previously. In time, I hope, more bridges will be built across the Liffey and will make an important contribution to further developing the communities they touch.
However I do not believe now is the time. A young family with three children, only minutes from where the proposed bridge is to be built, is to be made homeless in less than a week from now.
There are more than 1,300 children in homeless emergency accommodation. There are flats less than a kilometre from the proposed bridge without hot water plumbed into their bathrooms, and many flats are sitting empty because of a lack of resources to renovate and let them out again.
You claim it is not an either/or situation. In an ideal world it would not be. However this Government has made it an either/or situation. Working with individuals and families who find themselves homeless and in need of support services is distressing and resources for these services are, in my view, a priority.
Bridges are important but can wait, because communities, individuals and families need support services and new homes more urgently than we need a new bridge.
In my view this Government will be defined by its failure to build new homes and provide addiction and mental health services that are so desperately needed.
I make no apologies for saying we must prioritise spending on homelessness, housing and housing maintenance. – Yours, etc,
Cllr CHRIS ANDREWS,
Sinn Féin,
City Hall,
Dublin 2 .