Madam, - Joy Mawhinney (February 14th) praises the widespread provision of skateboard rinks in New Zealand and asks if local authorities in Ireland follow this example. Skateboard rinks are also very popular in Finland, but the teenagers here have built the rinks themselves with the help of their local youth clubs, and their parents. This approach is better because the skateboarders are actively involved in designing and building the rinks - and they also learn the basics of woodwork and joinery. - Yours, etc.
NIALL O'DONOGHUE, Narva, Finland.