Sir, - We have all been bombarded by circulars setting out the respective delights of the Government's Special Savings Scheme and the imminent change to the euro.
Is it not, then, rather surprising that with virtually the whole term of the five-year saving scheme falling into the euro currency period, the scheme's finances have been expressed in Irish pounds?
Would it not have been a little more far-seeing if the amounts had been expressed in round euros, ie the Government will contribute one euro for every four euros saved? This would have admittedly led to a temporarily awkward Irish pound equivalent for the rest of this year, but offset by the advantage of having round figures for the majority of the Savings Scheme period.
The present arrangement suggests that on January 1st, 2002, a direct debit into the scheme of say £100 per month will become 126.97 euros, with the Government adding 31.74 euros. - Yours, etc.,
John Riseley, Killiney Avenue, Killiney, Co Dublin.