Sir, - I wish to draw your attention to the plight of the senior citizens who reside at St Helena's Court, Finglas. This complex was built by Dublin Corporation with the intention of housing the elderly in an environment of security with the back up services of caretakers, attendants and a full time community warden. Dublin Corporation has seen fit to reduce these services to the bare minimum in what they call cut backs, but what in reality is penny pinching. These citizens have the right to apply to Dublin City Council's standing orders to have their views articulated to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors and the media.
The work of the community wardens has been trebled, the caretakers and attendants have been withdrawn. The penny pinching has even extended to the non-availability of staff to keep our roads clean. All of these points have been addressed to the city manager who, to date, has not seen fit to acknowledge any correspondence.
The way the old are treated in our country reflects on all of us. These are the most vulnerable in our society, who after a life of hard work find themselves baffled by bureaucracy and frightened of officialdom.
How many more old people will lie dead for weeks without being discovered before Dublin Corporation sees fit to restore the services which are not a luxury but a lifeline to their tenants? - Yours, etc.
Carrigallen Park, Dublin 11.