Private sector gets rich at our expense

Sir — The competence of this Government is shown by the Minister for Finance saying the roll out of rural broadband requires input from the public purse of €3bn — while the initial input of the private investors will be €200m. For that they get ownership of this vital national communications facility.

Is this the best deal possible? Successive government policies enriched the private sector at the expense of the common good.

With deepening crises in health, housing and homelessness, and the reckless negligence of projects such as the National Children’s Hospital and broadband, we are fast approaching a national emergency.

The Corrib gas field was handed to Shell by a Fianna Fail government under terms which you would have difficulty believing — terms which lead me to believe little or no revenue has found its way to the public purse.

Anyone in doubt of the urgency for a major rethink should look at the Ireland National Debt Clock.

In February 2016, this indicated €199bn; it now reads €221bn. A staggering rise in gross national debt of €22bn in less than three years.

Joe Brennan, Ballinspittle, Co Cork