Superloos not super accessible

SOME disabled members of the Ennis community are unable to use the so-called ‘superloos’ in the county capital, according to one local councillor. While Ennis’ town manager has stated the town council would be “very concerned” if that were the case.

At this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Councillor Paul O’Shea urged that the local authority carry out an economic feasability study by external independent experts on ending the current public toilet contract in the town.

He called for the study to provide costing for the provision of an alternative service that would include baby changing and facilities for members of the community with higher specific support needs.

Councillor O’Shea described the current cost of the superloos as “extortionate”. He added, “These facilities don’t come up to scratch for the 21st century. There is no baby changing, no space for breast-feeding mothers and a lack of space for people with profound disabilities.” He argued that there should be provision for a ‘universal access key’, known as the radar key, allowing people with disabilities to access locked public toilets.

He revealed he has been contacted by a local person with a hearing aid who cannot hear the instructions in the toilet because they are not on the ‘loop’ system.

Town manager Ger Dollard outlined that the town’s two public toilets cost a total of €67,000 on an annual basis. He added he would be “very concerned” if people with disabilites were finding it difficult to use the facilities.

“I would be quite happy to engage with and discuss with the operator to see what we can do,” he stated. He added the council would also examine the need for baby-changing facilities. He insisted “hand on heart, there is no way to provide toilets of the quality we require with a toilet block”.

Responding to Councillor O’Shea’s notice of motion, Mr Dollard commented, “The issue of the provision of public toilets in Ennis appears to be an ongoing item of discussion. The decision here relates to the council accepting that Ennis as one of the largest towns in the country, should provide public toilet facilities.

“On the basis that there is an acceptance that public toilet facilities should be provided, the next step is to consider the best model to provide same having reard to the standard of facilities required. The executive has previously done an assessment on traditional provision, that is, toilet block with the employment of toilet attendants against the more modern approach of automated public convenciences ie superloos.

“The executive is in no doubt that when account is taken of the capital costs of provision, costs of operation and maintenance, payroll costs and other overhead and incidental cost that the automated public convenience model offers a cost effective solution and, most importantly a standard of toilet facilities that is expected and required in modern towns and cities.”

Mr Dollard commented that it was “not considered necessary, or of value”  to employ external consultants to carry out a study.

“Recent reports have been critical of urban authorities not providing adequate toilet facilities for its tourists and citizens. Such reports have pointed to how other major cities place an element of importance over the provision of public toilets and view them as an essential service,” he stated.

“The facilities currently in place by Ennis Town Council are modern, fully accessible public toilet facilities. The council is not aware of issues regarding accessibility but is happy to examine any such issues in conjunction with the providers and operators of the automated public convenience,” he concluded.

Members of the council backed the call for the provision of additional facilities, with Councillors Michael Guilfoyle and Frankie Neylon recalling the bad conditions of the old toilet block that eventually had to be locked up. Councillor Johnny Flynn suggested a third superloo be put in place at the taxi rank on Parnell Street. While Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Mary Coote Ryan described the superloos as “hugely expensive but a necessary evil”.

The meeting also saw Councillor O’Shea request that the town council make toilets in council buildings available to the public. Leonard Cleary, town clerk responded, “There are toilets in Waterpark House, the Buttermarket Building and in the County Museum that are available to the public.”