Sir, - It was with no great surprise that I read in your edition of August 4th: "A reception centre for asylum-seekers in the affluent Dublin suburb of Balls bridge has been closed after a Government climbdown in the face of legal action by residents following a court settlement, the terms of which were confidential."
In my naivety I would have expected a more positive response from people who received State-subsidised private education, probably in religious-run schools. The area is dominated by members of the higher occupational groupings in our society. The Whelan ESRI study showed how this group differed radically from other socio-economic groups in our society in terms of life's opportunities - market situation, work situation, education, social origins, owner-occupancy, type of accommodation, etc. It showed how the structures of our society favoured them and helped them to perpetuate their class dominance in our society.
These affluent groupings are eager to retain their social privileges, but when it comes to their social responsibilities - such as their responsibility to accommodate their fair share of asylum-seekers - they use their social power of veto. The same resistance is seen when it comes to accommodating their fellow Irish citizens, the travelling community. - Yours, etc.,
Brendan Butler, Pennock Hill, Swords, Co. Dublin.