Sir, – In the debate following Robert Watt’s comments on the overconcentration of social services in Dublin 1 (“Dublin 1 unfairly burdened with ‘huge overconcentration’ of social services”, October 2nd), a recurring argument has been that while Dublin 1 may carry a disproportionate share of such services, efforts to redistribute them more evenly across the city are unrealistic because land and property values are higher in more affluent areas such as Dublin 4.
While concern for the prudent use of public funds is understandable, we do not apply this logic when considering amenities and services that are widely regarded as desirable, such as parks, libraries, sports facilities, schools and other public amenities.
Why, then, should homelessness, addiction and support services for vulnerable people be treated differently?
It is high time this argument was challenged whenever it is advanced, because it is increasingly used to defend the status quo rather than address the imbalance itself.
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Property values are rarely allowed to stand in the way of public amenities. It is curious that they become decisive only when the responsibilities concerned are those that affluent communities would rather not host.
I support Watt’s assertion that Dublin 1 carries a disproportionate concentration of such services and welcome efforts to ensure that responsibility is shared more evenly across Dublin and across the country. – Yours, etc,
DAVID PRICE,
Dublin 1.
