Category: News and Press

Sir, –  Breda O’Brien (“Friendship beats Bluesky for your mental health”, Opinion & Analysis, November 30^th) points to an important issue: “Today our troubles stem from the inability to sit and quietly chat in the same room with someone.”

This is increasingly noticeable in the delivery of public services and is sadly creeping into the NGO sector. Ticking the box, aided by the computer screen, while even avoiding eye contact, is further isolating fellow human beings, and those giving time in delivery of much-needed services can find themselves being accused of wasting valuable time.

Tony Gill, a street poet who rests in our plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, wrote:

“Today I spoke to no one,

And nobody spoke to me.

Am I dead?”

Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director of Services,

Alice Leahy Trust,

Dublin 8.

Letter to The Irish Times, 23 Oct 2024

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Sir, – Reading of the deaths of 40 people so far this year who were homeless in Dublin makes for sad reading (News, October 22nd).

Some of those people were known to us. In spite of the efforts of so many from the NGO and statutory sector and their families, their lives ended while homeless in our capital city. This points to the complexities of homelessness, which is so often seen as being just a housing problem alone. This poses challenges, difficult to understand and therefore difficult to address.

May all those who have died now rest in peace and their families be comforted in the knowledge that while they were living in some cases far from “home” were in touch with services.

Yours etc.

ALICE LEAHY

Director of Services

Alice Leahy Trust

Dublin 8

Sir,

The pilot Dublin Bus scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour has to be welcomed by staff and customers alike. It too is tinged with sadness that this is where we are now.

Many of us remember the friendly, efficient and helpful bus conductors of times past. They were great ambassadors for public bus service and our Capital City. We are daily reminded of the speed in which in so many areas of public service people have been replaced by technology in this box-ticking age.  Yes, technology has been so beneficial, and it continues to grow, yet it will never replace the helpful human being face to face with a fellow human being.

Dublin Bus might consider in due course having some staff available to check the occupancy of clearly designated seats for vulnerable passengers.  A daily user of public transport, I see young children in those seats, as elderly, disabled and sometimes pregnant women cling to bus rails for dear life to get to their destination.

Yours etc.

Alice Leahy