Sir, - I read with sadness but not surprise the letter from Mary Bigley (August 11th). What makes matters worse is that the person homeless was a nine-year-old child.
After reading the letter I got a phone call from a former literacy student. He has just completed three years on a Community Employment scheme and is back on the dole. He is now in receipt of £73.50 a week. He asked me to help him with a letter to the ESB, as he is unable to pay a bill for £44. This person was turned down for jobs because he could not complete application forms.
It would seen that this country is able to give humanitarian aid to other countries, but cannot afford to help its own people.
Who is to blame for the nine-year-old destitute and the 25-year-old illiterate? It would appear that the present Government is equipped with prefabricated brains or hearts of stone. But what of the trade unions, the churches, and the Opposition parties. Do they not see society's great evils? If so, why don't they speak?
It's time to destroy the myth of the Celtic Tiger. - Yours, etc.,
Michael O`Donnell, Old Youghal Road, Cork.