Madam, - Kieran Allen (Opinion & Analysis, September 14th) expresses concern at the "reforms" being introduced in UCD and their impact on college staff and "academic freedom". Unfortunately, for the residents of this area, these "reforms" are far from being an academic exercise.
Driven by a president who seems to me to be incapable or uninterested in engaging with the university's neighbours, UCD is seeking to impose an enormous office and residential complex within feet of one of the few local authority estates in this part of Dublin. This was done without the courtesy of as much as a single word to the people who live in the area and with the planning site notices placed about a mile away from the people most affected.
It is also interesting to note that of the many learned academics in the college who are now so concerned about the lack of consultation, not one showed the slightest regard for the consultation rights of local residents when this occurred. - Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY, Beech Hill Drive, Dublin 4.