Laois County Council refuse to install toilet facilities in graveyards

Laois County Council have said that they have no plans to provide toilet facilities in Laois graveyards, as it would negatively impact' their aim to prioritise room for burial capacity.

Fine Gael County Councillor Barry Walsh recently tabled a motion that the council provide public toilets at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Ballyroan Rd, Abbeyleix.

"This is an issue that has been brought to me many times while I was canvassing, hearing 'if Portlaoise have toilets, why can't we'"," said Cllr Walsh.

Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council Mr Ken Morley replied that the Council would not consider the motion as their priority is burial space.

“The provision of public toilets in St Patricks cemetery Abbeyleix must be considered in conjunction with other similar cemeteries throughout the county of which there are more than 20," said Mr Morley.

"The provision of burial capacity at each of these cemeteries is a priority for Laois County Council and all available ground and resources should be utilised for this purpose. Any requirement to provide public toilet facilities in cemeteries would have a negative impact in this regard.”

Cllr Barry Walsh and Cllr John Joe Fennelly expressed their dissatisfaction with this response, slamming it for being 'negative.'

"A lot of people spend a lot of time in graveyards, respecting and visiting their loved ones. I'm just not sure why we can't provide these facilities, I am not happy with that answer," said Cllr Walsh.

"I plan to stay pushing this and hopefully there can be some solution, it's quite a well used cemetery. There is always someone in it when you drive past," he said.

Cllr Fennelly also hit back against this reply from the Council.

"I agree with Cllr Walsh, this reply is very negative. I don't think it should be that negative, we should always be looking for ways to provide a service like this," said Cllr Fennelly.

"I understand that there is pressure on the grave space, but I think on the top right hand corner on the Ballyroan side of the graveyard, there is plenty of space there that we could look at. I don't like to see replies as negative as this, we should always be open to seeing if the situation is possible," Cllr Fennelly finished.

This motion was tabled at the October sitting of the Portlaoise Municipal District of Laois County Council.