Madam, - The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Michael McDowell plans to build a new gigantic prison on farmland in the middle of our community at Thornton, Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin.
We, the residents of the area oppose this plan, as it will destroy forever our community and way of life.
It will also destroy a unique heritage site that dates back to 3,000 BC.
It raises other unanswered questions such as traffic, infrastructural requirements, urbanisation etc.
The selected site is grossly unsuitable and equally as incongruous as the idea of developing a 150-acre dairy farm in the front lawn of Leinster House.
There is no final figure or estimate of the total cost of this proposal and doubtless there will be one - it will likely be just another exercise in fudge.
There are serious questions to be asked about the price agreed for this site at Kilsallaghan - an unprecedented €30 million for 150 acres.
According to figures from the Central Statistics Office, agricultural land has increased by nearly 300 per cent in the ten years from 1993 to 2003.
The latest figure from the Central Statistics Office is around €23,000 per acre.
The lands at Kilsallaghan are agricultural, so why is the Minister prepared to pay €30 million for land that should sell for about €4 million or €5 million on a good day?
There must be an answer out there somewhere.
Lets see who's first to find out. - Yours, etc,
JOANNE O'SULLIVAN, Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin.