The need for public showers

A degree of dignity for people whose living conditions are beyond description

Sir, – When the Alice Leahy Trust made a submission for public showers to Dublin City Council in 2006, it was covered by The Irish Times. We have highlighted the need for public showers and toilets at every opportunity since then, to no avail. No one could foresee at that time what was facing us. The war in Ukraine and increasing numbers of people arriving here seeking protection has led to a lot of people sleeping on our streets and in tents. This is at a time when we hear that vast sums of money remain unspent in some Government departments.

The hard work of our Government and the people of our country must be acknowledged.

The provision of well-run showers and toilets, not just in our capital city, would help to ensure some degree of dignity would be afforded to people whose living conditions are beyond description, and would help those who are struggling to care for them.

Surely it must be possible to divert some finance, even a small portion, to provide such a basic need? – Yours, etc,

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ALICE LEAHY,

Director of Services,

Alice Leahy Trust ,

Dublin 8.