DERVAL GAUGHAN PhD.,
Madam, - I have been taken aback by the reaction of many to the decision of the Minister for Finance to terminate the grant for first time buyers of new homes. When difficult budget choices are being made, it is bordering on greed to suggest that this particular grant should remain.
Is the grant more important than ensuring our children have dry, warm schools to attend? Is it more important than funding development of housing for socially disadvantaged people?
Would those who advocate that the Minister should change his mind prefer to see a relative who is dangerously ill be told that there is no hospital bed because the ward is closed
These are the choices that have to be made. Let's keep the grants, but only when those who are more deserving in society, our children, our sick and our poor, have the funds that are needed for them whether in schools, hospitals or in taking people off the breadline.
Yours etc.,
T. GERARD BENNETT, Templeroan Park, Knocklyon, Dublin 16
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Madam, - As an Irish postgraduate living abroad I have always been very eager to move back to Ireland. I moved to the US five years ago due to the lack of funding for biomedical research at home. I am very pleased to see this has changed and I recently attended an Enterprise Ireland event in which the government is actively encouraging life-science postgraduates living abroad to move back home.
Now that there are good job prospects in Ireland, the last barrier facing each of us living abroad is the cost of buying our first house at home. I was so disappointed and angry to hear that Mr McCreevy has abolished the First-Time Buyers grant.
The final hurdle to returning home gets more and more daunting every day as house prices keep on rising and any little bit of help from the government is abolished. - Yours, etc.,
DERVAL GAUGHAN PhD., Pine Street, Philadelphia PA 19103, USA D
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Madam, - Let us not be fooled about the abolishing of the First-Time Buyers grant. The Ahern/Harney/McCreevy axis is using this as a lightning conductor for public ire. While people are exercised by this miniscule saving (when compared to on-going SSIA costs) much more drastic cuts are being carried out without much public anger.
It should not come as a great surprise that as Budget day approaches the decision to cut the grant will be reversed and everybody will think what a great man Mr McCreevy is.
I would like to coin a new phrase to describe democracy Irish style - "mendocracy" (when mendacity meets democracy). - Yours, etc.,
PAUL REDMOND, Colthurst Rise, Lucan, Co. Dublin.
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Madam, - How about a penalty points system for those driving our economy? Are Charlie McCreevy and his cohorts really fit to be behind the wheel?
The sharp application of brakes while dramatically exceeding the advised speed limit, followed by a sharp u-turn without the use of indicators amounts to wreckless driving in anyone's book.
Reversing at full speed and hitting the sick, the elderly, school-children, young househunters and public-service users without owning up to the consequences is a serious crime.
If you witnessed such driving on the roads, you would certainly remember it four and a half years later. - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS LYNCH, Seaview Park Portrane, Co. Dublin
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Madam, - Given his pathetic performance as Minister for Finance, I regard it as an obligatory courtesy to inform Mr McCreevy that I have dusted off my blowpipe and spear and am heading for the long grass. There I shall wait - however long it takes. - Yours etc.,
BARRY HEALY-DOYLE, Greenville Terrace, South Circular Road, Dublin 8
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Madam, - I would rather pay more income tax than see children in sub-standard schools. Is there any party I can vote for? - Yours, etc.
EVELINE VAN IJSSEL, Lisnagry, Co. Limerick
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Madam, - Come back Ernest Blythe, all is forgiven. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT O'SHEA, Meadow Grove, Churchtown, Dublin 16.