Dublin City Centre’s Only Public Toilets To Remain Open, For Now
Dublin City Centre’s Only Public Toilets To Remain Open, For Now
Text: Izzy Copestake
The decision comes after strong backlash.
Following strong public and political backlash, Dublin City Council has paused plans to close the Grafton Street public toilets as it searches for a long-term solution.
Installed during lockdown, the facility once served 20,000 users a week but now sees approximately 1,500 daily. Despite the drop, it still costs nearly €400,000 a year to run. Councillors and TDs criticised the move as “short-sighted”
Yesterday afternoon, Lord Mayor Emma Blain stressed the need to keep toilets open, particularly for the elderly and pregnant women, adding that she had been “blindsided” by the announcement last week.
Planning for new public toilets in the city is expected to begin this autumn, alongside the appointment of a new service provider to manage the facilities. However, many have argued that this is not enough, and several councillors have called for a broader rollout of public toilets across Dublin, highlighting sanitation as a basic right.
Green Party councillor Claire Byrne urged the council to “apply the same sense of urgency that people who need to use the toilet have” and added: “This isn’t just about one toilet. It’s about meeting a basic public need that’s been ignored for too long.”
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