Nine months after Dublin City Council announced plans for new public toilets in the city centre, the facilities remain in their “concept stage.” With spring here and warmer weather encouraging Dubliners to spend more time outdoors, the lack of accessible toilets remains a pressing concern.
Last June, the council pledged nearly €6 million to develop four permanent public toilets in 2026, following plans to close temporary units at the top of Grafton Street due to decreased demand. After public and councillor opposition, the closures were abandoned, and the new toilets were proposed for South King Street and Barnardo Square on the southside, and Prince’s Street and Smithfield Square on the northside. The final projected cost is €5.7 million. According to the Chief Executive, the project “is currently at concept stage” and the units will be supervised during operating hours.
Public toilets have long been in short supply in Dublin. Before the 2000s, city centre residents and visitors relied on cafés, pubs, and shopping centres, a stark contrast to the 1970s when over 60 units were available. Green Party Councillor Donna Cooney highlighted the ongoing challenges, saying that Dublin has lagged behind other counties in providing this “most basic need.” She cited her own Clontarf constituency, where eco-toilets in St Anne’s Park were set on fire shortly after opening, illustrating the obstacles authorities face in maintaining such facilities.
A 2025 Dublin City Council report attributes the disappearance of on-street toilets to vandalism, drug abuse, anti-social behaviour, and the expense of maintaining safe and hygienic infrastructure. Many units, located below street level at locations such as College Green and O’Connell Street, were considered high-risk. The report also noted that while temporary pandemic-era toilets in Grafton Street/St. Stephen’s Green saw high usage initially, numbers dropped dramatically once retail reopened, suggesting reluctance to use public facilities when alternatives exist.
The council is exploring alternatives, including converting vacant retail units into manned toilets, a practice common across Europe. However, there appears to be little interest from the retail or commercial sector in incorporating such facilities.
Costs remain a significant challenge. The council estimates that servicing one unit costs approximately €200,000 per year, or €800,000 annually for four units. Over five years, assuming 5% inflation, the total servicing cost could reach €4.4 million.
Currently, the Grafton Street/St. Stephen’s Green toilet is the only on-street unit in operation. Across public buildings, retail, educational, and transport facilities, there are 92 toilets in Dublin, including 26 in the central commercial district. Dublin City Council says it is working with consultants to secure permanent locations for the planned units before moving forward with construction.
