Madam, - It would be encouraging if, as you suggest in your Editorial of November 22nd, there was a commitment in this Government to building social capital.
You write: "Government cannot ordain that people will be good citizens and do good deeds but it can help to foster a climate in which such conduct is valued and admired.". That is a reality, but it will ring very hollow with the people of Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
As reported in your news columns on the same day, they suffered a complete rejection of their bid to buy local Teagasc assets to be developed in the interest of their community.
The assets concerned were the farm and offices which Teagasc closed when it removed its research and advisory activities elsewhere. The response of the community when these assets were offered for sale was to request Teagasc, through me, to delay the sale tender for a short time so that people could organise the necessary funds. Teagasc refused.
In spite of this, the Breffni Development Group, formed by the Ballinamore community to buy the farm and offices, set about arranging its bid. In doing so it was encouraged by a assurance from the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, who has responsibility for Teagasc, that any bid from the community would be favourably received.
A very substantial community bid was lodged within the time designated. If the Minister's assurance was indicative of Government policy to encourage the building of social capital, this offer - which was a mere €15,000 lower than the successful bid from a forestry concern - should have been accepted.
Here were "good citizens" prepared to "do good deeds", but the Government patently failed "to foster a climate in which such conduct is valued and admired", in the words of your Editorial.
Teagasc's refusal to sell for a fair price to a community infused with the idea of building social capital raises serious questions about an organisation which has an entire division involved in rural development - and about the commitment of this Government to supporting communities who are prepared to help themselves. - Yours, etc,
MARIAN HARKIN TD, MEP, Emmet Place, Union Street, Sligo.