Social Welfare office forced to re-open its toilet facilities
By Mary Dennehy
THE social welfare office in Tallaght is re-opening its toilet facilities after a senior citizen single handedly started a campaign, and asked how a public building providing a public service could get away without having a public toilet?
Wishing to remain unnamed, the pensioner who lives in Tallaght this week expressed to The Echo his anger when he discovered that the Intreo Centre in Tallaght had no public toilet facilities.
The Intreo office in Tallaght
“I was in the buidling a couple of years back and remember that there was no toilet facilities but at the time it was just my opinion that they were out of commission temporarily,” he said.
“However, I’ve recently learned that this was not the case and that the toilets are still closed.
“How could they think that this is acceptable?
“I don’t understand how they can take away a human right.
“There are elderly people and parents visiting this office with children and there’s no toilet facilities… it doesn’t make sense.”
When asked how he felt that his campaign had been successful and that the toilet was being re-opened, the resident said: “I’m angry that this toilet ever closed in the first place.
“The real question is how can a public building with such a high footfall not have a public facility like a toilet?
“I had wondered if this was Government policy, was it nationwide, but the fact that they are re-opening the toilet tells me that Tallaght was singled out.”
The Echo understands that people waiting for an appointment in the Intreo office were advised to go to nearby restaurants if they enquired about toilet facilities.
The resident contacted all of the TDs in the area, with Sinn Fein deputy Sean Crowe raising the issue on his behalf with the Intreo office, which falls under the remit of the Department of Employment Affairs amnd Social Protection (DEASP).
In a reply sent to Deputy Crowe, which The Echo has seen, a representative for the Intreo office said that buidling regulations “do not require” the provision of public toilet facilities in DEASP public offices.
“However, the Department endeavours, where possible to provide a fully accessible toilet facility for customer use,” the reply said.
“I can confirm that there is a public toilet in the Intreo Centre Tallaght.
“This facility was closed a number of years ago.
Consistent misuse
“The decision to close the toilet facility was taken following consistent misuse and resulting health and safety concerns at the time.”
However, in light of Deputy Crowe’s representation, the officials in the Intreo Centre have decided to re-open the facility and provide access to the public on request.
Some works will be required, which will be completed in the coming weeks.
Deputy Crowe told The Echo: “I’m appalled that people were treated like this.
“It’s a basic requirement.”
He added: “I do welcome the speedy response from the department and office management but I do think it’s unacceptable that a Government office providing a public service has not had a pubic toilet for such a long time.”
