Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

The letter continues as follows.

This housing project provides housing for elderly people, for social housing, and for some affordable dwellings also. The catchment area comprises of Tynagh, Duniry, Ballinakill and Woodford, most of them in the CLÁR area. For various reasons, some people are unemployed and require further training in order to return to the workforce, while others are badly in need of professional childcare facilities to remain in employment. I am given to understand that Galway County Council are prepared to give the site free to facilitate the building of the creche within the community as part of an overall development that can be planned accordingly from the outset. I would be grateful if your Department would be amenable to provide funding for such developments.

I sent a similar letter to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, from whom I received a courteous reply with volumes of information on how that group could provide and access funding. The following is the reply that I received from the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív.

Dear Senator,

I was astounded to get your letter on 30 March 2004

Although it was an ordinary representation, he was astounded, obviously at the cheek of anyone——