The first public toilet to be reopened since their wholesale closure by Dublin City Council more than 10 years ago will not be wheelchair accessible or to have baby-changing facilities.
The council closed its nine staffed toilets in the city centre following Garda advice and public complaints relating to increasing anti-social problems, including drug abuse, prostitution and vandalism. Modern unmanned automatic public conveniences were subsequently installed at Burgh Quay, but these were also shut for similar reasons.
Following appeals from the public and pressure from councillors, the city council agreed late last year to study the feasibility of reopening the toilets.
Assistant city manager Matt Twomey yesterday told councillors that the closures had been reassessed and that one public toilet would be reinstated later this year, with a view to reopening more toilets in "high demand" areas. The underground toilet at College Green had been chosen for the pilot scheme, Mr Twomey said, but it was unlikely that it would be accessible to the disabled or have baby-changing or "washing" facilities.
Its size, which would be difficult to increase because it was underground, meant that only basic facilities could be accommodated, meant that there would be little room for a changing area or showers or other washing facilities. The steps would make wheelchair access problematic.
However, he told councillors that the College Green toilet was a pilot initiative which would be used to evaluate a greater roll-out of toilets and a greater range of facilities could be available at other conveniences in the city. "Clearly this is a service the city council should be providing. It is provided in most cities in Europe . . . We're hoping we will see a much varied service in various locations and clearly accessibility will be much easier overground."
The new toilets would be staffed and security arrangements would be put in place to protect both staff and users and to ensure the toilets were not vandalised, he added. The council was considering installing CCTV cameras.
