MARTIN NEWELL,
Madam, - Your excellent editorial of February 19th reinforces the view that Irish Government-run public services are in such a chronic shambles as to question the very legitimacy of the State. The terrifying deficit in road quality is the most serious crisis facing people west of the Shannon. Unless it is resolved quickly and without further shilly-shallying we may as well tell our young people to get out of Ireland and seek a decent life in some civilised state. As it is, the only thing we can offer visiting businessmen and tourists is an apology.
The solution is straightforward but never mentioned here, though the World Bank has adopted it as policy in Third World road funding, which it sees as the absolute prerequisite for prosperity. Road construction and maintenance (and policing) should be put under a professional organisation along the lines of the ESB or Eircom free from day-to-day political interference and with no dependence on the Department of Finance. It should derive its income direct from road-users and be directly responsible to them on commercial lines under overall government policy.
Until this is done we need not believe any politician's assurances about improvements; they will never happen. Such reform will be fiercely resisted by Luddite elements within the Department of Finance.
The present road system is utter farce. While the Dutch and Danes can plan and execute massive 10- to 30-year projects without delay or deviation, we must wait for next December's long tots to see what lucky-dip pittances will be graciously given out for next year. Credible planning is thus impossible. The diversion of road-users' charges to other purposes is a total scandal. The various layers of bureaucracy from Finance down to 35 sovereign republics (the councils) is the stuff of comic opera. Highway maintenance technology (in Co Galway certainly) is typically three decent men with shovels and a pick-up truck.
Could we ever persuade the US to invade us instead of Iraq? - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN NEWELL, Chartered Engineer, Baranny, Galway