Councillor Dermot Lacey from Dublin 4 agrees with Alice Leahy’s sentiments, as expressed in her letter on July 30th, where she underlined the urgent requirement of improving basic public facilities, such as toilets and showers, in Dublin city. The observation she has been making for the past 18 years is both recognised and approved by the city’s councillors, who have allocated funds for this purpose in multiple council budgets over the years. However, it is the legislative authority to instruct officials on execution of these projects that is lacking. The power to carry this out lies with the executive branch. This brings to the forefront once more the necessity of crucial reforms to local governance.