School sports scheme should be welcomed

I AM appalled by Green TD Paul Gogarty’s recent attack on the Government for supporting a programme that puts sports equipment into the hands of children.

I have to ask, what kind of miserable people are we putting in the Dáil?

I go to the shop, buy bread, cheese, milk and other essentials. I give my store receipt to the local children.

My little receipt doesn’t buy them anything, but when added to all the other neighbours’ contributions, they end up with a football or a rugby ball. This seems like a very good thing to me.

I was going to buy the food anyway, and the money was spent. Shouldn’t we be happy that a store chain is willing to make my €10 receipt worth even more?

The food benefits me, the rugby ball will benefit dozens of local youngsters. I’m glad they have the ball, and I’m happy to keep giving them my receipts.

I say well done to the Irish Sports Council and to Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue for making my €10 go just that little bit further.

Fit, happy children playing on a sports field are a joy to us all.

Shame on Mr Gogarty for trying to use the work of good and decent people for some sort of political gain. I will not be voting Green any time soon.

Micheál Higgins

Knockanes

Adare

Co Limerick