Sir, - The decision by the Department of Education to delay assistance to the new docklands campus for the National College of Ireland is another blow to our inner-city community, which has only recently begun to reap some benefit from the massive exploitation of the old docklands.
Our people got nothing from the Custom House Dock Development. It was known locally as the Invasion of the Suits. But the advent of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority plan gave us hope with its promise of jobs, affordable housing and education.
The NCI's project to develop a docklands campus fits neatly with one of the better parts of the DDDA's master plan, namely the "saol scoil" or education-for-life component. I have already seen the potential of this project, which will give our people a fair chance to equip themselves with the necessary skills to take up jobs that are coming to this area. A few weeks ago 21 docklands parents completed the first module of a parents-in-education programme, given by the NCI and sponsored by the DDDA. The commitment of the participants was 100 percent. Given the opportunity, our people will be able to break the cycle of deprivation that has dogged the docklands for decades.
Docklands development there must be. We welcome it. All we want is justice. We already feel threatened by the massive Manhattan-upon-Liffey Spencer Dock development that could leave us in shadowlands if it is not radically curtailed.
We need the National College campus. Let the Department of Education balance any misgivings about its grant with the fact that it has not had to support many third-level students from the inner city down through the years. There weren't many! At last we are getting the opportunity to break the cycle. Any delay would be further injustice. - Yours, etc.,
John Wall PP, Church of St Laurence O'Toole, Sheriff Street, Dublin, 1.