Madam, - Lorna Siggins reports (The Irish Times, July 8th) that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, has expressed "concern" about a €644 million shortfall in National Development Plan spending in the Border, Midlands and Western region, and intends to at least "narrow the gap" before the end of the plan's life-span in 2006. Perhaps significantly, he was speaking in Co Sligo, at a meeting of the Western Development Commission, whose chief executive spoke about the commission's plans, specifically in rural tourism.
Minister Ó Cuiv's concern about such a significant shortfall in spending - some of it aimed at developing tourism in the Northwest - came just a month after he was reported (The Irish Times June 10th) as having a "huge emotional attachment" to Lissadell House, which he described as "a very exceptional property, attached to an incredible woman who is a major national and international figure."
While it is understandable that he had to be careful not to pre-empt, as he said, the process of Government, it is to be hoped that he will use his undoubted influence when the future of Lissadell is discussed at Cabinet. He must feel encouraged by the widespread public support in favour of the property being saved for the nation.
Mr Ó Cuív must be aware that he is in a strong position to demonstrate, in a very practical way, to his fellow Cabinet members his self-declared emotional attachment to Lissadell by offering to meet the cost of purchasing the estate using just a tiny percentage of the underspent money that has also been a cause of concern to him. By doing so, he would earn widespread gratitude and still be left with more than €640 million to spend on other projects in the region during the next three years. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT JAMES,
Nutgrove Park,
Dublin 14.