Dublin City Centre Will Soon Have No Public Toilets
Dublin City Centre Will Soon Have No Public Toilets
Text: Izzy Copestake
Dublin City Centre’s only public toilet is being closed
The only remaining public toilet in Dublin city centre, located at the top of Grafton Street, is set to be removed by Dublin City Council. Installed during the Covid-19 pandemic as a temporary measure, the council has been spending €400,000 a year to maintain these toilets.
A report to be presented to councillors next Monday states that “the installation of the unit was initially a short-term arrangement, and a temporary operating model was entered into with a service provider to provide all operational and security functions.” The report goes on to state that “usage has dropped significantly to 1,500 users per week”, and uses this as the reason for Dublin City Council’s intended to removal of the public toilet.
For many, particularly women and gender non-conforming individuals, the loss of public restrooms disproportionately impacts their daily lives. Women tend to need to use bathrooms more frequently, urgently, and for longer periods of time, due to factors like menstruation, breastfeeding, or the need to care for children. The lack of accessible, well-maintained public toilets creates significant challenges for women. The absence of these facilities in Dublin’s city centre highlights the difference between surface “equality” and real, practical equity when it comes to public infrastructure.
The council says it is still exploring options for a permanent solution, though efforts have stalled. Automated toilets were ruled out by one provider due to high risks of vandalism and misuse, and no final operating model has been chosen. Potential future sites under consideration include Prince’s Street and the planned College Green plaza.
Once home to more than 60 public toilets in the 1970s, Dublin will soon have none in the city centre , a long-running issue the council aims to revisit with new proposals by September.
Elsewhere on District: Eurovision Have Effectively Banned Artists From Displaying The Pride or Palestinian Flags On Stage
