Sir, – I am horrified that there has been an increase of 50 per cent since April in the number of homeless in Dublin (Home News, December 8th). The tragedy in the Phoenix Park illustrates the sad consequences.
The problem could be alleviated if the same solution were adopted that Albert Reynolds, when he was taoiseach, and I, when I was secretary-general of his department, together with the Defence Forces chief of staff found when a couple, sleeping rough, froze to death. We organised for the Army to collect people sleeping rough and bring them to premises in Grangegorman which were heated, had toilets and showers and where they were fed from Army field kitchens. This provision lasted two years.
The Army regarded it as good training for soldiers going overseas, where they often engage in community social action. A great merit was that no extra expenditure was necessary.
It’s a disgrace that we allow people to sleep rough when the situation can be easily remedied. – Yours, etc,
PÁDRAIG Ó hUIGINN,
Old Bridge Road,
Templeogue,
Dublin 16.