Kilkenny Access Group seeks commitment for a Changing Places Facility

Kilkenny Access Group is calling on Kilkenny County Council to commit, without further delay, to the delivery of a Changing Places toilet facility in the county, as the group marks nearly five years of sustained advocacy on the issue.

Ahead of Zero Discrimination Day, Kilkenny Access Group will hold a public community event this Friday (February 27) from noon to 2pm, at St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall.

The event will highlight the real and ongoing exclusion experienced by disabled people and their families due to the absence of a Changing Places facility anywhere in Kilkenny. Families, carers, disability advocates and members of the wider community will gather to collectively call for action. 

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Fiona O’Neill of the Kilkenny Access Group said that the issue has moved beyond discussion and awareness.

“After nearly five years of waiting, this is no longer about consultation — it is about delivery. Continued delay amounts to discrimination. Kilkenny County Council must now publicly commit to a Changing Places facility, identify a location, allocate funding and publish a clear delivery timeline for 2026.”

"The human impact of this ongoing lack of provision is illustrated by the lived experience of a Kilkenny family. Sara, who is 12 years old, has faced significant medical challenges throughout her life, including multiple surgeries and cancer treatment. During these periods, access to a safe and appropriate space to change was essential. However, such a facility has never been available to her in Kilkenny," said Fiona.

Sara's mother, Claudia, described how the absence of a Changing Places facility repeatedly forced their family to leave social occasions early.

“We had to leave family and close friends multiple times just to go home to change. Sometimes we didn’t even go back — we just went home. My back is also feeling the consequences of all the lifting and bending over the years.”

Kilkenny Access Group says Sara’s experience reflects the reality faced by many families across the county. The group emphasises that Changing Places facilities are not optional extras but essential infrastructure that enables disabled people and carers to participate fully in community life with dignity.

At the event this Friday, Kilkenny Access Group will issue a clear and public call to action, urging Kilkenny County Council to move from expressions of intent to tangible delivery.

As Zero Discrimination Day approaches, the group says the council has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to equality by taking decisive action.  

For further information contact kkaccessgroup@gmail.com.