Sir, - Blackrock will lose its town hall to even more commercial offices or apartments if the Department of Education and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council fail to support the expansion of a college for computer studies on the site. Should that happen, the result will be further traffic congestion in south Co Dublin and a wilful failure by the authorities to address the growing jobs shortage in the computer industry.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown VEC is already engaged in running a highly successful computer studies course for 150 students in a building attached to the town hall. It is most anxious to expand and would provide computer courses for a further 300-400 students should the necessary money - and the building - be made available. Such a development would be welcomed by the local community, both because of the extra "spend" students would bring into the area and because they invariably use public transport.
Local councillors and elected representatives have been approached in this matter and have been very supportive. Representations have also been made to the Minister for Education, Mr Michael Martin. But the cost of acquiring and converting the building, estimated at £1 million to £1.5 million, appears to have stymied progress.
Blackrock Town Hall, unused for years, would be given a new lease of life if this education project goes ahead. The matter is most urgent and final decisions are expected by next month. The location, well served by both bus and DART, would greatly facilitate students from a broad catchment. The country needs the new skills that would be offered there. Surely it is an open-and-shut case on any economic, social or town planning basis? - Yours, etc.,
John Treanor, Idrone Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin.