Sir, – Harry McGee argues for a directly elected mayor of Dublin, while allowing each of the existing four local authorities to continue in operation (“Why Dublin needs mayor with real powers”, Opinion & Analysis, August 12th).

The current local government structure in Dublin consists of four town halls, each with a full suite of bureaucratic functions, and is surely an extraordinarily expensive way to provide services in a relatively small geographic area?

Adding another layer of bureaucracy on top of the existing structures would probably be throwing good money after bad, unless it were accompanied by a serious rationalisation of the existing bureaucratic functions of the four councils under a mayor. – Yours, etc,

PETER MOLLOY,

Glenageary,

Co Dublin.