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Letter to The Irish Times: Social Media and Social Isolation

Sir, –  Breda O’Brien (“Friendship beats Bluesky for your mental health”, Opinion & Analysis, November 30th) 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.

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Deaths of homeless people in Dublin

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

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Letter to The Irish Times: Security on Dublin Bus

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 We are daily reminded of the speed in which in so many areas of public service people have been replaced by technology in this box-ticking age.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

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A clear need for public showers and toilets – the health and dignity of all must be a priority

Letter to the Irish Times, 30th July 2024

Sir, – The Alice Leahy Trust made a submission, including an architect’s plan, for public showers to Dublin City Council in 2006 and again in 2014.

We intend doing so again now, 18 years later, in 2024.

The Irish Times noted our plan in 2006, and later in 2018 as part of a feature article entitled “10 ideas for improving Dublin’s infrastructure, economy and daily life” (Life, November 7th, 2018).

Today the need for public showers and toilets is even more glaringly obvious.

Our capital city is teeming with tourists, building work is thriving, but most concerning is the hundreds of people from across the world living in conditions beyond description, and the many people living in overcrowded accommodation.

The provision of well-run washing facilities and public toilets would help ensure some degree of dignity would be afforded to those in need and help those struggling to care for them.

It is clear that washing is a first step to ensuring that serious health issues can be prevented or even detected. On a weekly basis (five mornings), we provide up to 60 showers as part of our holistic health vision in a tiny centre, while not being a public washing facility.

Ironically, years ago, with fewer people living and visiting our city and far less money available, we had public toilets and some washing facilities.

We urge our city councillors and city management to look seriously at the need for well-run municipal showers and public toilets in our capital city that are available in other European cities.

The need is now more obvious and urgent to ensure the health and dignity of all. If it is necessary to provide this service through a public-private partnership, surely it is possible to knock heads together with a can-do attitude for the good of all. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director of Services,

Alice Leahy Trust,

Dublin 8.

LINK: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/07/30/a-clear-need-for-public-showers-and-toilets