Madam, - A report by your political reporter Arthur Beesley (August 25th) states that Fianna Fáil is going to "listen more to the community". It quotes Mr Billy Kelleher, a Cork city TD, expounding the new found philosophy: "the party aimed to show it was caring and understanding."
May I offer all the Cork Fianna Fáil representatives a golden opportunity to put their caring philosophy into practise?
The centre for the unemployed in Cork city is facing imminent closure, owing to a withdrawal of funding by this Government. This purpose-built centre provides a wide range of educational courses and advice to the local community. It is a place to meet, for those without work, retired people and asylum seekers.
I was involved with the centre for several years, as a literacy tutor. We provided individual tuition to people whose literacy problems were a barrier to employment. Now, this service is under threat, through lack of funding, at a time when the exchequer is awash with money.
I call on all the Fianna Fáil TDs here in Cork to prevent the closure of this vital community centre. Otherwise their caring for the community will be seen as so much cant. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL O'DONNELL, Cork Individual Tuition, St Patricks Hill, Cork.