Sir, In 1993, Minister Brendan Howlin announced a three year phased programme to protect children at risk, costing £35 million.
In 1996 Minister Brendan Howlin announces a ten year phased programme to fill in potholes, costing £750 million.
With a conservative estimate of 4,000 reported cases of suspected child abuse each year, have we put our children first? Yours, etc., Director/secretary, Barnardos, Christchurch Square, Dublin 8.