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I would like to thank Dr. Margaret Kennedy, disability
Somewhere, over the…
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Somewhere, over the…
atest press release from Cllr Orla Finn, issued on Monday, October 
6th 2025…
This much-needed facility would provide the necessary space, equipment, and safety features to enable safe and dignified personal care for a wider range of individuals who cannot use standard accessible toilets. Cllr Finn suggested that these toilets should be placed beside the Greystones Municipal District building or in the surrounding area.
This motion passed with the unanimous support of all Councillors. The contents of the motion will also be sent to Wicklow County Council for review.
advocate and a wheelchair user, who has been campaigning for additional facilities such as these for some time. Dr. Kennedy has pointed out that in June 2024 Universal Design Guidelines for changing places toilets was produced by the National Disability Association and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design which ensures that Changing Places Toilets will be compulsory in many public buildings from now on.
Dr. Kennedy stated, “As Wicklow is also the only local authority in the country to have a dedicated Community Development Officer with assistance from the Disability Federation of Ireland, I am calling on Wicklow County Council to prioritise installing a number of Changing Places facilities across the county as quickly as possible”.
Cllr Finn added that “these toilets are essential for promoting social inclusion and independence and without them many people face isolation, inconvenience, and even health risks, hindering their ability to enjoy everyday activities.
1 comment
From Dr Margaret Kennedy…
What wonderful news to have this approved by the County Council.
For those not aware of the need for such a toilet ..when you are a large disabled person who may be wearing incontinence wear, this needs changing at least every 3 hours after which you are in danger of getting a urine infection or bed sores from sitting in a wet pad.
in order to change, this person needs to lay down. Up until now parents have laid their children on the ground of a toilet to change incontinence wear, this was and is unsanitary. Very unpleasant for the person and often not confidential and screened off .
The fact that we could not be hygienically attended to meant that we often chose not to go out and about it was just too difficult. Who wants to sit in a wet incontinent pad or a soiled one for hours until you got home.
I am not worried about discussing this we have to speak of the reality. The changing places toilets Will really help older people Children mothers and fathers with children who need to be laid down to be changed.
it Offers great dignity and respect, it will allow us to enjoy going out and about.
‘Above the Treetops’ has already got a changing places toilet.
See what they look like.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BLvEph1oU/
Our next success, we Orla and myself and others hope will be the roads and pavements of Greystones which need a lot of repair to enable wheelchair users traverse the town with ease and safety..
I certainly think the County Council are now going to pull out all the stops to make Greystones an accessible town.
Margaret
Dr Margaret Kennedy
Disability Activist/campaigner
Specialist Consultant/ Trainer Disability Equality & Client protection