Letter to the Irish Times, 30th July 2024
Sir, – The Alice Leahy Trust made a submission, including an architect’s plan, for public showers to Dublin City Council in 2006 and again in 2014.
We intend doing so again now, 18 years later, in 2024.
The Irish Times noted our plan in 2006, and later in 2018 as part of a feature article entitled “10 ideas for improving Dublin’s infrastructure, economy and daily life” (Life, November 7th, 2018).
Today the need for public showers and toilets is even more glaringly obvious.
Our capital city is teeming with tourists, building work is thriving, but most concerning is the hundreds of people from across the world living in conditions beyond description, and the many people living in overcrowded accommodation.
The provision of well-run washing facilities and public toilets would help ensure some degree of dignity would be afforded to those in need and help those struggling to care for them.
It is clear that washing is a first step to ensuring that serious health issues can be prevented or even detected. On a weekly basis (five mornings), we provide up to 60 showers as part of our holistic health vision in a tiny centre, while not being a public washing facility.
Ironically, years ago, with fewer people living and visiting our city and far less money available, we had public toilets and some washing facilities.
We urge our city councillors and city management to look seriously at the need for well-run municipal showers and public toilets in our capital city that are available in other European cities.
The need is now more obvious and urgent to ensure the health and dignity of all. If it is necessary to provide this service through a public-private partnership, surely it is possible to knock heads together with a can-do attitude for the good of all. – Yours, etc,
ALICE LEAHY,
Director of Services,
Alice Leahy Trust,
Dublin 8.
LINK: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/07/30/a-clear-need-for-public-showers-and-toilets
