Madam, - What is happening to Dublin city centre? After Bertie Ahern resigns as Taoiseach on May 6th, maybe he will have more time to focus on issues such as cleaning up our capital city's streets, particularly in areas covered of his own constituency. North Earl Street and Talbot Street are the main thoroughfares leading to Connolly Station and Busáras from O'Connell Street. The Abbey Theatre stands on the corner of Abbey Street and Marlborough Street.
This area has always had its problems, but in the past few months roving gangs of drug addicts have begun to hang around it in growing numbers. Marlborough Street has become a public toilet, with the gates of the Department of Education being a favourite location for urination by both men and women. And I am pretty sure they're not just protesting at Minister Hanafin's education policies.
Watching junkies dragging little children and pushing prams around with them is a sickening sight. Last week two junkies got into a fight which ended in one of them being thrown through the window of a travel agency, smashing it to pieces. This happened at 2pm on a busy day. I know there has been a lot about the state of the Liffey boardwalk along Eden Quay, but things there are as bad as ever.
Drinking on the streets is a regular sight, at any time of day. What impression does this give to tourists? It is time Dublin City Centre was cleaned up and a proper renewal plan established for the Marlborough Street area. - Yours, etc,
ALAN GALLAGHER, Beverly Lawns, Dublin 16.