Madam, - In response to Margaret Butler's letter of July 22nd regarding lost property at Dublin Airport, the Lost Property Office is located in the Airport Police Station, Arrivals Road, beside the taxi rank.
The office is generally open from 7.15am to 10.15pm daily, except in the event of an emergency when personnel who staff it may be required elsewhere.
As a general rule most items found in Dublin Airport are stored in the Lost Property Office. The exception is when items are found at a boarding gate or on a aircraft, when the airline or handling agent will hold on to the item.
Many items are handed in to the Lost Property Office - glasses, money, mobile phones, bags, to name a few. Crutches, walking aids and even wheelchairs are among other items found.
Items are stored for three months, and longer in the case of valuables. Every effort is made to reunite lost items with owners where names or addresses are discovered.
Once the storage time has elapsed, clothing and cash items are distributed to various charities on a rotational basis. All duty-free purchases found, such as liquor and tobacco, are given to the Mansion House at Christmas for charity dinners held for the homeless. - Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN MOORE, External Communications Manager, Dublin Airport.