County council calls for public toilet fund
“For families with young children, pregnant women, and older individuals, access to clean and accessible toilets is not a privilege – it’s a basic necessity.”
The words of Carrigaline Cllr Audrey Buckley (Fianna Fáil) who has called on the Government to establish a dedicated fund for the installation of public toilets at beaches and other outdoor amenity areas across the county.
In her motion at Monday’s full meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Buckley said many existing toilets in the county are outdate and not fit for purpose.
“Without this essential service the community risks alienating visitors and making everyday life harder for local residents,” said Cllr Buckley.
Every year approaching the summer months, Cllr Buckley said her area of Carrigaline is left uncertain as to whether portaloos and bins will be provided.
“We’re facilitating Cork city and the surrounds that come down to these areas on a sunny day,” she said.
“Some of the money is coming out of our local municipal district funding.
“Each February I’m sitting here asking, ‘are we going to have portaloos and bins in May?’ and I don’t think that’s good enough. I think it should be mandatory and I think I shouldn’t have to ask for that,” added the councillor.
Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan said: “I don’t think we should be having to put up a massive fight for basic things like extra bins and extra toilets every year.
“Pulling it out of the municipal district budget is just not fair. We’re already overstretched on so many other things,” he added.
The maintenance of existing facilities is also a concern for councillors.
Kinsale councillor Ann Bambury (Social Democrats) said she visited the seaside twice last weekend and on the second day her children refused to use the public toilets due to their condition.
“I had to drive to the nearest village to use the toilet because they wouldn’t go back in,” said Cllr Bambury.
She added: “It’s not good for children to hold if they have an urge to go to the toilet because it can bring on urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other issues.”
Cllr Buckley’s motion was passed, and Cork County Council will now write to the Department of Rural and Community Development to highlight the issue.