Calls for public toilet access all year round on Waterford's beaches
Public toilets are closed in the off-season in some parts of the county. Stock Image
Public toilets on beaches need to be open in the off-season, say councillors in Waterford.
Councillor Kate O’Mahoney told officials and elected members of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council in February, that she was recently visited by a constituent who illustrated a wider point about the provision of public toilets.
Cllr O’Mahoney asked the council to review the policy on Clonea Beach.
“I had a constituent of mine come into the office on Mary Street and tell me about her medical issues. She had an emergency and needed access to a bathroom on the beach but was left without one and had to drive over to the hotel side and use Gordon's private bathrooms for that,” said Cllr O’Mahoney.
She went on to say: “I was just wondering if for like elderly people and children, and as I said people with medical conditions using the beach, some local, but tourists as well.”
Cllr Thomas Phelan supported his district colleague.
He said he had asked that provisions for the beach be included in the next budget before the council.
“It is just so busy there these days," he said.
"I was up there a while ago before on a fairly wet Wednesday in January, and the car park was full. It’s just so busy with outdoor swimmers, and it's gone beyond the day when we should have public toilets there year-round and bin collection too,” added Cllr Phelan.
Senior Executive Officer in the Environmental Department, Dawn Wallace, said they do not have the budget to open the public toilets all year round.
But she said they would examine it for the next budget.
Councillors at the meeting also called for public toilets to be returned to Dungarvan.
Cllr Phelan said that several years ago, they passed a motion and money was put aside for the installation, which was not enough.
“Personally, I think we got the runaround, but I would like to see it on the agenda very much," said Cllr Phelan.
Cllr Tom Cronin supported Cllr Phelan’s call suggesting a space outside the old Post Office.
“The town needs a public toilet,” said Cllr Cronin.
Ms Wallace said she would look at the issue.
Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy raised an issue with the use of wooden toilet seats in public toilets in Lismore.
“A couple of the toilets need to be cleaned up," he said.
"It’s very unsanitary in this day and age that we have timber-hardened toilet seats and stainless steel toilets,” added Cllr Mulcahy.
Dawn Wallace said she would take a look at Lismore but would also be reviewing toilet maintenance more generally.
