O’Flynn: Assigning blame won’t solve this

A “common sense” approach needs to be adopted in planning for an outdoor summer this year a Cork City Councillor has said.

Independent Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn said at a time when communities are encouraged to embrace the outdoors, both councils in Cork must have adequate resources to help the public enjoy their summer outside.

He praised local volunteers for the work they do throughout the year and said litter is a collective problem that needs to be addressed at a community level.

His comments came after large crowds gathered in the city centre last weekend resulting in numerous arrests by gardaí.

Last Saturday was one of the warmest days of the year so far.

There was much consternation online over the weekend at videos and images circulating of large crowds in Cork City Centre, however assigning blame won’t solve this, said Cllr O’Flynn.

“We are told that this summer will be an outdoor one and the Government should have had the foresight to assign increased funding the local authorities for investment in bins, maintenance staff, public toilets and additional street furniture,” he said.

Cllr O’Flynn added that the practical demands of an outdoor summer should come as no shock to anyone, given that this is our second summer living with Covid-19 restrictions.

The upkeep and availability of bins and public toilets across Cork city and county has been discussed at length at recent council meetings and is a major cause for concern for many councillors, particularly in coastal areas.

Cllr O’Flynn said it is now of the upmost importance to make it easier for people to dispose of their waste and to fully equip local communities with enough bins, particularly in parks and plazas.

He said the same goes for public toilets and even though some toilets public buildings have been opened to the public, the majority of them are closed by 4pm.

“Government should be making provision for opening well-resourced public toilets in areas that people are meeting and at the times that they tend to congregate,” said the Cllr.

Currently, when ‘public toilet in Cork city’ is typed into Google Maps, only two are shown in the city centre with another registered near the Marquee.

“Public toilets are essential and long overdue in communities throughout the county. Access to a toilet can be the difference between cities being accessible or not,” concluded Cllr O’Flynn.