Council planning to introduce 'changing places' toilet facility in Athlone

Westmeath County Council is moving ahead with plans to develop the county's first 'changing places' accessible toilet facility, for people with additional needs, in Athlone.

Cllr Frankie Keena has been calling for the facility to be installed in Athlone Civic Offices, saying it's needed to give people with additional needs, and their carers, "more space and the correct equipment to take care of personal hygiene in safety and comfort."

He pointed out that standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all people with disabilities, but 'changing places' toilets are much larger "to allow for two people, as well as room for a wheelchair to turn," and they also include both a hoist and a height-adjustable adult changing bench.

"Unfortunately, due to the fact that there are no such toilet facilities in Athlone, or indeed Westmeath, parents or carers are currently being forced to change their loved one on the floors of public toilets. This is absolutely disgraceful," said Cllr Keena.

"In a lot of cases, people find it difficult to leave their house in comfort due to the fact that there are no adequate safe and hygienic toilet facilities available in the town for their loved ones to use with dignity. Visits to the town have to be organised down to every detail."

At this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, the Fianna Fáil councillor said the absence of a 'changing places' toilet amounted to discrimination against people with additional needs, and he hoped that if one was developed by the council it would "act as a catalyst to encourage other State bodies and businesses to do likewise."

In a written response to his motion on the issue, council management said "a feasibility report by an appropriately qualified consultant" needed to be prepared as a first step, and this is due to be done in the coming months.

"Thereafter, the most appropriate solution will be costed, a budget identified, and it will progress to implementation."

Expanding on this reply, the council's Director of Services, Barry Kehoe, indicated he was hopeful that the facility would be in place in the not-too-distant future.

"If we get the feasibility study back and it's favourable, and the space we have identified is suitable, I don't see an impediment to it. Hopefully it will be first of many," he said.