Toilets in Laois playgrounds are a no-go

TOILETS in local playgrounds are a no-go, because it is up to communities to provide toilet facilities rather than Laois Co Council.

That was the response given to councillor Ollie Clooney, when he asked for toilets to be installed at the council-run public playground in Durrow.

The Independent councillor said there was “no question that toilet facilities are needed” at the busy Darú na Óg playground in the town.

However, a written response from the council’s recreation section said it was up to community groups ‘to identify the need and fund, secure and maintain toilet facilities’.

The response said: ‘Toilet facilities are generally not provided by Laois Co Council at playgrounds. The local community group, who manage the playground in partnership with Laois Co Council, often organise local arrangements to use adjacent community facilities for playground users.’ 

The response at the June meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District also stated that the lease at the old boys' school in Durrow is for a playground only.

The reply added: ‘In circumstances where no alternative toilet facilities are available, it is a matter for the local community group to identify the need and fund, secure and maintain toilet facilities - as in the case of Coolrain playground, where the local community group Coolrain Tidy Towns secured CLÁR funding for a dry toilet facility and maintain this as an annex to the playground.’ 

Unhappy with the response, Cllr Clooney pointed out that the gym adjacent to the Durrow playground does not have insurance to allow children from the playground to use toilets there, while the bathroom in the nearby chapel is always locked.

He said: “I don't know what to say, other than that it’s needed. There might be a way around it and I would ask that some plan be put in place.” 

Cllr John King said the lack of toilet facilities was a problem for all playgrounds in the county and asked whether Portaloos could be hired or rented by the council, during busy summer months in local playgrounds.

Cllr King said: “The Rathdowney playground could benefit from a portable toilet, although at nighttime toilets can be places to avoid, because different activities may be going on. It’s a tricky situation.” 

Cllr James Kelly from Mountrath said that Portaloos need a lot of maintenance and he would prefer to see the provision of toilets fixed to the mains.

Director of services Angela McEvoy said the council does not tend to provide toilet facilities as it does not have the funding and resources to support their maintenance, which requires “on the ground” management.

She suggested that a town team might investigate the need and funding for toilet facilities and said the issue would be investigated further.

At the latest meeting of Laois Co Council, Cllr Kelly had enquired about the possible provision of toilets connected to the mains in Coolrain. Director of services Simon Walton replied that the council runs 23 or 24 playgrounds around the county but playground toilets “are not covered by any grant funding that we might pursue”.

Mr Walton added that, while wastewater network capacity in the area would have to be assessed first, the council would “have a look at the specifics of providing a connection in Coolrain”, which would be required before toilet facilities could be installed.