Motion carried to provide urgent toilet access to vulnerable Kilkenny group
The cards do not currently grant free access to automated, pay-to-use public toilets
Labour councillor Sean Ó hArgain is urging the local authority to take immediate action to better support people using ‘No Wait Cards’.
Mr Ó hArgain requested that Kilkenny County Council develop a ‘no wait initiative’, encouraging local businesses to participate by allowing urgent toilet access to people who have a no wait card.
The specialist cards are issued by organisations such as Crohn's & Colitis Ireland and Spinal Injuries Ireland, and allows users to avail of toilet facilities in public places such as businesses.
The cards do not currently grant free access to automated, pay-to-use public toilets.
“The card is a critical support for many people with medical conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which affects at least 40,000 people in Ireland,” the Labour councillor noted in his motion.
The motion was seconded by Cllr Tomas Breathnach.
Meanwhile, access to public toilet/changing facilities for people with additional needs remains a public talking point.
Just last March, Senior Engineer with Kilkenny County Council, Stan Cullen revealed plans are afoot to install Changing Places toilet facilities in the city centre.
Unlike standard public toilets, these facilities are specialised units designed for people with complex disabilities and/or for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.
The Kilkenny Access Group spent five years calling for such a facility before the development.
An exact date is not yet known regarding their completion, but it is anticipated that works will take three to five years.