Sir, – Finbar Kearns (Letters, November 6th) bemoans the number of one-off houses being built in Wexford, citing the lifetime of long commutes that await the occupants of these houses.
He might also have added the damage being done to the physical beauty of our countryside, the ecological damage caused by unmaintained septic tanks, the increased cost of everyday services such as postal deliveries, bin collection etc, and the hollowing out of our towns and cities.
He also opines that it would be a good idea for the Department of Transport and the Department of Local Government to get together to ban one-off houses. I’m afraid it’s too late for that. Politicians the length and breadth of this State know that for every voter who supports the prohibition of one-offs, there will be many more who will support their building.
It would take an act of great bravery from a rural politician in particular to support banning one-off houses.
But bravery is a commodity in short supply among Irish politicians, and as we all know, turkeys would never vote for Christmas. – Yours, etc,
TREVOR TROY,
Baile Átha Buí,
Co na Mí.