Councillors call for more public toilets at popular outdoor pursuit areas in Kerry

Blennerville is now a gateway for walking, running, and cycling the Kerry Way and needs a portable public toilet for those using the village as their start and finish point, councillor Angie Baily told a meeting of Tralee Municipal District. File photo: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus Ltd

An ageing population and greater participation in outdoor pursuits has sparked a call for more public toilets in Kerry.

Blennerville is now a gateway for walking, running, and cycling the Kerry Way and needs a portable public toilet for those using the village as their start and finish point, councillor Angie Baily told a meeting of Tralee Municipal District.

Her motion on the issue is one of a number to come before council meetings in Kerry recently, and the expansion of public facilities should not be confined to beach or seaside towns, meetings have heard.

Popular mountain hill walking areas at Carrauntoohil and Mangerton also need toilets, local representatives have said. However, the council said it must bring existing toilets up to modern standards before it can expand that number.

The council said in reply that it is relying on a number of funding sources, including tourist agencies, to carry out the upgrades.

Kerry's existing 37 public toilets are located throughout the county and are at key locations including Blue Flag beaches, marinas, towns, and popular attractions, it said.

“The council operates an ongoing public convenience upgrade programme, which will continue into 2026 through support from Fáilte Ireland’s 'Platforms for Growth' initiative and other available funding streams,” Ms Baily was told.

While the opening hours of several facilities were extended to improve accessibility and service to the public last year, at present, Kerry County Council does not intend to expand the number of public convenience facilities until the existing portfolio has been fully upgraded.

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Portable toilets were for festivals and events and were for short-term and occasional use. They would not be in keeping with the standard of public convenience provided county wide, the council said.

Shower and toilet facilities should also be open all year round, not just seasonally, as activities on beaches such as Banna Beach in Kerry were now year round, councillor Deirdre Ferris said.

She was told that Banna Beach toilets already opened at Christmas and Easter, but consideration will be given to extend opening hours in the 2026 budget.

Banna was one of three Blue Flag beaches in Kerry where funding from the outdoor recreational infrastructure scheme had been obtained for new toilets and possibly showers.

This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme