Cllr Warren O'Toole

08/09/2026

Life brings all sorts of trials and tribulations but for many parents there is one worry that never really goes away:
What happens to my son or daughter when I am no longer here?
For thousands of families of adults with intellectual disabilities, that worry is there.
Around 1,500 adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland are living with family carers aged over 70, with around 450 living with carers over 80.

Behind those figures are mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters lying awake wondering what happens next.

And we need to remember something very important:
People need more than care. They need a life.
A home. Friendship. Community. Choice. Security. Purpose. Somewhere they belong.

We cannot continue waiting until a parent dies, becomes ill or simply can no longer cope and then describe a completely foreseeable situation as an “emergency”.

The Before We Die National Assembly takes place in The Helix on Saturday, 19 September, bringing families together to demand proper long-term planning and residential provision for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Before We Die
Families deserve certainty.
Their sons and daughters deserve a plan, a home and above all, a life of their own.

https://www.beforewedie.ie/events/before-we-die-national-assembly

07/09/2026

The biggest threat to world peace is the hypocrisy of tyrants and powerful leaders operating in plain sight, demonising other states while perpetrating or excusing the very actions they condemn.

There should be no normalisation of war and no belief that powerful states or leaders are somehow above accountability.

International law exists for a reason. Without basic standards, oversight and accountability, what hope is there when the language, actions and intentions of those in power become increasingly dangerous?

Stand against genocide.
Stand against war.
Stand up for peace, neutrality and international law.

📍 Garden of Remembrance
📅 12 September | 🕐 1pm

05/09/2026

Great to see the new public toilets now open on South Quay Arklow at the Dock in Arklow. 👏

A much-needed facility, accessible to all and finished to a very high standard.

Well done to Arklow Municipal District and Wicklow County Council on delivering this for the town. 👍

Please respect and appreciate it .

05/09/2026

A huge day for Irish sport & an especially proud one for us here in Wicklow. 🇮🇪🥊

Katie Taylor has inspired a generation. A proud Wicklow woman who didn’t just transform women’s boxing she changed Irish sport & helped open doors for countless young athletes coming behind her.

Her determination, humility, discipline & belief have made her one of Ireland’s greatest ever sporting figures & an incredible ambassador for Wicklow & for Ireland.

A legend with an amazing legacy .

Wishing her every success today , Wicklow & Ireland are behind you💚🥊🇮🇪

04/09/2026

What exactly is holding housing back in Arklow?

932 people have Arklow listed as their area of choice for social housing , the highest figure for any single area in County Wicklow and more than one in five of the countywide total.

For years we were told the wastewater treatment plant would unlock Arklow for badly needed housing and development.

Developers continue to face significant upfront costs, contributions, bonds and infrastructure requirements before projects can get moving.

And now another major constraint has emerged: electricity infrastructure. EirGrid has confirmed that the existing Arklow 220kV substation is reaching the end of its life and needs replacement to support future residential and commercial development.

This cannot simply be a blame game directed at Wicklow County Council. Government and State agencies also have serious questions to answer.

If infrastructure constraints were known, why were they not planned for and addressed together?

Why are developers still facing obstacles when we desperately need homes?

And if substantial housing funding is being allocated to Wicklow, why are we still lagging behind on delivery?

We need clear answers on:
• what is stopping housing projects in Arklow
• what infrastructure is still required
• how developers can be assisted to deliver
• what funding Wicklow has been allocated and actually drawn down
• who is responsible for delivering each missing piece

Arklow cannot keep being told that the next piece of infrastructure will finally unlock the town.

We need the State, the Council and the infrastructure providers working together and delivering.

Call for urgent roundtable meeting as virtually no new social or affordable housing in Arklow | Irish Independent https://share.google/Am5mYzVmV3XjNXJBb

03/09/2026

♻️ USE THE FACILITIES WE HAVE – KEEP WICKLOW CLEAN

I was using Croghan Recycling Centre in Arklow yesterday and it got me thinking about how far we’ve come.

There was a time when huge amounts of what we threw away simply ended up in landfill. Today, Wicklow County Council’s recycling centres deal with almost 3,900 tonnes of material a year, including more than 190 tonnes of waste paint.

Arklow is one of only two Council recycling centres in the county, along with Bray, that accepts waste paint.

Cooking oil, paint, electrical goods, glass, metals and a wide range of other materials can all be disposed of properly there.

The staff in Arklow deserve huge credit too. They’re knowledgeable, helpful and will always point you in the right direction if you’re unsure what can be taken.

📍 Croghan Recycling Centre, Arklow
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WqWK5ZVKPgY8FZEo6?g_st=aw

There’s also a fantastic facility at Murrough Eco Park in Wicklow Town, which accepts a very wide range of materials.

📍 Murrough Eco Park, Wicklow Town
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6Hf79Qh6strt7MF57?g_st=aw

A lot of what we still see dumped in lanes, at roadsides, forest entrances and beauty spots can be disposed of properly through facilities like these.

There really is no excuse for dumping when these facilities are available.

♻️ Use the facilities available.
♻️ Ask if you’re unsure.
♻️ Keep Wicklow clean.

01/09/2026

A huge congratulations to Pat Healy on an incredible 50 years in business! 🎉

For half a century, this family business has been part of the fabric of our community supplying restaurants, feeding generations of families and being part of countless dinners around kitchen tables far and near.

Reaching 50 years is a fantastic achievement & a real testament to the Healy family & their staff .

Wishing Pat & Baz every success with their anniversary celebrations this week & many more years of serving our community.

Congratulations & best of luck to everyone involved! 👏🥩🎉

Get ready to celebrate with us! 🎉 Pat Healy & Sons Butcher is turning 50, and we’re planning something special. Great offers and exciting prizes are on the way. Stay tuned for more updates! 🥩✨

21/08/2026

☣️PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING ⚠️
ARKLOW HARBOUR

I want to make people aware of a serious issue at the slipway in Arklow Harbour this evening.

There is a significant amount of what appears to be human excrement across the slipway and immediately beside it , creating an obvious public-health hazard for anyone using the area, particularly children, dog walkers and people accessing the harbour.

Since being made aware of the situation, I have contacted every available relevant department and service I could reach and have continued to escalate the matter in an effort to have the area made safe and cleaned as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, at present I have been advised that the matter may not be dealt with until Monday. I have no suitable equipment to safely cordon the area off myself but in good conscience I cannot simply leave this without warning people.

Please avoid the affected section of the slipway and keep children and animals away from the area until it has been properly cleaned and made safe.

This post is to alert the public to the immediate health risk

21/08/2026

📢 Have Your Say – Current Wicklow County Council Public Consultations

Public consultations are an important opportunity to put your views, concerns and ideas on the record.

The best way to shape progress is by engaging, sharing views, raising concerns and suggesting improvements.

There are a number of consultations that relates to Arklow open through Wicklow County Council’s Online Consultation Hub:

- Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership, Closing Date for Submissions, 5pm Monday, 31st August 2026

- Active Travel Scheme - Section 38 Road Traffic Act 1994 - Coolgreaney Road - Closing date for submissions is 5pm, 2nd September 2026

- Declaration of Public Roads 2026 - Section 11 Roads Act, 1993 - Closing Date 4th of September 2026

- PART XI / Part 8 - Notice of Proposed Enhancements of Seaview Avenue Recreational Area - Closing Date for Submissions is before 12 Noon on Thursday, 24th September

- Identification of Bathing Waters 2026, closing date 25th September 2026

To view the consultations and submit your observation, please visit https://buff.ly/hyDYJVD

If something matters to you, don’t assume somebody else will raise it. Have your say and help shape the future of our community.