Madam, – I read with disappointment that Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has decided that salvaging Asgard IIis unaffordable (The Irish Times, February 24th).
Thousands of Irish people learned to sail on that beautiful ship – members of the same generation whose hopes and dreams are rapidly sinking under the stormy waters of recession. And the same Government that drowned our future in debt is unwilling to pay €2 million (mere pennies compared with the figures mentioned in the same breath as “banking crisis”) to resurrect a symbol of prouder, happier times from her watery grave.
We are well and truly sunk. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Are we doomed constantly to miscalculate when decisions involve simple sums? To decide to abandon the Asgard IIsail-training ship now resting 80 meters below the sea in good condition is yet another example of total numbers blindness. More than 10,000 youngsters have enjoyed the training experience aboard this historic craft. It is insured for €3.8 million. It would cost €2 million to raise, leaving €1.8 million for refurbishment.
The cost of building a replacement is frightening, considering that the Jeanie Johnston cost the taxpayer €12 million. Over 4,000 Dublin Boat Show visitors signed a support petition in the past few days. They appear to have been better at sums than those who took the shortsighted decision to leave Asgard II on the seabed. – Yours, etc,