Poverty In Ireland

Sir, - Once again The Irish Times has brought to our attention the dreadful inequalities that exist in our society by highlighting…

Sir, - Once again The Irish Times has brought to our attention the dreadful inequalities that exist in our society by highlighting the plight of the Devoy family (August 20th).

In my naivety I laboured under the illusion that a government's purpose was to look after the citizens of the State, especially those who are unable to look after themselves. However, I have witnessed the Gulag-like conditions of the patients of some of the State's psychiatric institutions and daily pass by a sewage pipe where an elderly man lived until the institutions of this State were embarrassed into finding him accommodation.

With this in mind it beggars belief that we could find £40million to establish a guesthouse in the Phoenix Park - For shame. - Yours, etc.,

John Meilgan, Blackrock, Co Dublin.