Sir, - Your editorial of November 7th gave an in-depth view of the problem of so-called "urban cowboys". It pointed out that the children of Ballymun and similar areas, having no other provision for social and athletic activities, have built up a kind of resource of their own in their passionate love of horses, and their skill and courage in riding them.
The sort of legislation proposed for controlling this problem is, as you pointed out, simply ludicrous. Horses to be licensed at a fee of £25; microchips to be provided for identification; proper stabling, grooming and feeding facilities? Where, may we ask, did the legislators think the money for all this would come from? From the pockets of mainly unemployed parents? Let's forget never-neverland and return to the real world of the so-called Tiger economy.
There is money to spare and we all know it. Millions, or rather hundreds of millions, are to go to up-dating all levels of education, and rightly so. But the cowboys - mostly, if not all, early school-leavers - will benefit little from this. Their need is quite as urgent, and a comparatively small amount of money (millions but not hundreds of millions) would provide stabling, fodder, proper training, safety helmets, secure riding areas, and all the licensing and identification required.
Why, you may ask, all this trouble and expense for some hundreds of delinquent children? For the very good reason that if some practical skills and training are not developed in this and similar areas we will be nourishing the next generation of joyriders, drug users, drug pushers, Aids victims, alcohol abusers and suicides. Is that not a good enough reason?
As usual, we put the cart before the horse. We wait until the country is saturated with drugs and all their concomitant evils, then we think we are coping with the problem by imprisoning some minor drug-pushers, attempting to cure the drug addiction, and dealing as best we can with the ever increasing Aids problem.
These boys and girls should be provided with the means of enjoying their wholly admirable love of animals. No income-tax cuts, no grants and golden handshakes, etc. until the young and vulnerable are given the means of developing their legitimate interests.
Is it too much to ask of the Government? Is it too much to ask of the wealthy and the comfortable to do without further wealth and comfort until the absolute needs of the underprivileged are met?
It's not even an unselfish thing to do. It will benefit the whole nation, rich and poor, if we have fewer drug users, less alcohol abuse, fewer joyriders, fewer suicides, less need for prison places.
Please Taoiseach, please Finance Minister, please unions, put first things first, and let us all share in the benefits of a more balanced community. - Yours, etc.,
From Helen Lamb
Clara, Co Offaly.