Consultation on housing refugees

Sir, – In “We are in crisis. There is no time for consultation on housing refugees” (Opinion & Analysis, February 8th), Michael McDowell asks, who would the Department of Integration consult, if it wished to use, for example, the former Baggot Street Hospital or the former Jury’s Hotel for accommodation purposes?

Surely an email to four TDs and five councillors would not be too hard.

Both these properties were proposed to the Department of Integration and, in the case of the former hospital, to the Department of Housing for more domestic use by myself over six months ago. I am still awaiting a viable reason as to why they are not being used. It is we who consulted the Department of Integration, not the other way round. – Yours, etc,

Cllr DERMOT LACEY,

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(Labour),

Donnybrook,

Dublin 4.