Burnt out St Anne's Park toilets back in use - but changing rooms will have to wait
The burnt out toilets at St Anne’s Park have been restored for use - but councillors say there’s more work needed in the area.
As the culmination of years of lobbying from those in the North Central Area, local representatives were left heartbroken after the new eco-toilets were the target of an arson attack just mere days after they were installed last October. This was just one of many pieces of public infrastructure destroyed in Dublin this year, with Councillors taking a stand against this senseless anti-social behaviour.
Fergus O'Carroll from the Parks Department revealed that two contractors “dropped everything” to get these toilets back into use and they were repaired as quickly as possible. However, Councillors have now stressed the need for additional toilet facilities at St Anne’s, as well fast-tracking the planning of changing rooms for the park.
While changing rooms had been planned alongside the provision of toilets, Mr O’Carroll said they decided to “change tact” and deliver the toilets quicker than expected and come back to this plan in 2026. It’s still not certain if changing facilities can be delivered without the need to put forward a Part 8 planning application or if the project can be achieved below that threshold.
He also said that providing additional toilets at the northeast corner of the park is something that has already been discussed internally within the council. As an essential public amenity for the area, Councillors stressed the importance of providing toilets and changing facilities to the community’s young people playing sports.
The repaired toilets were welcomed by Councillor Kevin Breen who said that everyone is happy to see that the “saga” of the St Anne’s vandalism is coming to an end. “The Department has been very engaging and coordinated and the timeline with which they have come back into use has been miraculous.”
Cllr Breen said that toilets represent “the bare minimum” of what they should deliver as a council, and highlighted the importance of prioritising children in sport and public spaces. Similarly, Cllr Deirdre Heney reflected on all the years of lobbying it took to get the toilets installed in the first place, and the disappointment when they were so quickly destroyed.
“It’s been a long time coming and I am really pleased these toilets have been repaired and can now be used by the local sports club. I want to thank anyone involved in their provision and look forward to the changing rooms adjacent to the eco-toilets next year,” she said.
Commenting on the proliferance of arson attacks in recent times, Cllr Karl Stanley said it’s important the council show they “won’t be intimidated” or allow anti-social behaviour to slow down the provision of new infrastructure. He commended the council on “getting the job done.”
“We need to make sure these people do not win and people have benches and toilets and all the things they need. Just because a small number of people are destructive, that won’t stop us.”
While Cllr Donna Cooney said she had hoped the council had already gone to Part 8 for the changing rooms, she highlighted the toilets as a shining example of what they can achieve. She stressed the need for the changing rooms plan to go to tender as soon as possible.
Similarly, Cllr Clodagh Ni Mhuiri said this is an issue that should remain a priority and that changing facilities for the park are just as important as the toilets. “It’s important this stays on the agenda and we’re making sure infrastructure like this is protected. I’d hate to be reluctant to install necessary facilities for fear of anti-social behaviour.”
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