Madam, - Having been abroad, I have just seen Michael Hanahoe's response (August 8th) to my suggestion regarding the possibility of funding the restoration of Dun Laoghaire baths from the successful Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company.
It is nice to see a rare example in these Celtic Tiger times of the once popular Irish tradition of "an béal bocht". However, as chief executive of the harbour company, Mr Hanahoe's desire to insert a 40-foot pole between his company and the financial white elephant of a reinstituted public baths is entirely understandable. If the baths are reopened in their current format they will lose money. It is a sad fact that most of the middle class people who protested last year had probably never used the baths when they were open and would never use them if they were reopened.
However, a decision on the future of the baths is required and it is ultimately a political one. If the baths are deemed to need an ongoing subsidy, this must be provided either from local or central government funds. If neither is willing to provide such a subvention, the baths should be demolished to provide continuous public access along the seafront and/or allow the site to be used for some commercial purpose.
Last year's protests have scared local politicians and the county council is unlikely to propose any new initiative for fear of another backlash. Consequently, we could be faced with years, if not decades, of inaction on this bricked-up and derelict eyesore on the seafront.
The Harbour Company, on the other hand, has displayed a willingness to take commercial decisions and risk public disfavour, as shown by the selection of one of the less-favoured designs for the Carlisle Pier development.
If a commercially viable solution is required, it might make sense to transfer ownership of the baths to the harbour company with a mandate to effect the necessary changes, even if Mr Hanahoe doesn't want this particular political and financial monkey. - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.