Sir, - Contrary to the impression given by an article on the use of new building methods for houses in the Architecture section of your Property supplement of June 13th, members of the Building and Allied Trades Union (BATU) fully support and embrace new building technologies. We would have a concern, though, if so-called new technologies in building were to result in sub-standard housing schemes as has occurred in past decades at great ultimate cost to the taxpayer as well as to the people who had to live in them.
BATU is, and will remain, opposed to any future "Ballymuns". But where new building technologies offer advantages over existing methods and preserve the highest standards that people are entitled to expect in their homes, BATU will support these innovations. Incidentally, the union is currently engaged in talks with several leading building companies on the implementation of new building methods, training for our members and revised conditions of employment. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN O'SULLIVAN,
Regional Organiser,
BATU,
Blessington Street,
Dublin 7.