Madam, - Dr Pat Harrold's article in your Health Supplement of January 2nd is a serious indictment of successive Irish Governments, particularly the recent administrations which have enjoyed the benefits of the Celtic Tiger.
Dr Harrold contrasts the paucity of exercise and sporting facilities for children with the generous support from public funds for greyhound racing. He mentions the only indoor track in Ireland which can be used by the public; it has primitive facilities and receives little support from public funds. Add to this the neglect of cycling as a source of exercise and transport, the lack of exercise facilities in new housing estates and the huge amounts of public money invested in elitist sport.
Despite all this, the Government deplores children's sedentary lifestyles and the growth of obesity. Meanwhile it pursues a low-tax culture in which the commercial world can actively encourage consumerism, cars, second homes and continental holidays. Do we really care about the future of coming generations? - Yours, etc,
RISTEÁRD MULCAHY MD, Roebuck Road, Dublin 14.