Councillors call on urgent action for public toilets in Rossnowlagh - Donegal Daily

A number of councillors have once again raised the issue of a lack of adequate public conveniences at Rossnowlagh Beach. Independent councillor Niamh Kennedy, a...

A number of councillors have once again raised the issue of a lack of adequate public conveniences at Rossnowlagh Beach.

Independent councillor Niamh Kennedy, and Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Naughton highlighted the issue at a recent sitting of the Donegal Municipal District on Tuesday.

It is not the first time the matter has been raised with officials from Donegal County Council.

In July , councillors demanded 'urgent action' after portaloos in Rossnowlagh were left overflowing during the height of summer.

However, despite those pleas, the calls have thus far fallen on deaf ears.

Kennedy said that the system of portaloos at Rossnowlagh is no longer fit for purpose.

"The lack of public conveniences has been a huge, huge issue for years. There are eight portaloos down there in Rossnowlagh at the minute, but we need a more practical way of dealing with the toilet facilties down there.

"Thousands of people visit the area every summer, and what we have in place simply isn't good enough," said Kennedy.

Gardai issue appeal for info on man (62) missing from Letterkenny

Kennedy did reserve praise for the work of Kevin McCloskey, Coastal Officer at Donegal County Council, and declared that the issue is now the number one priority in the Donegal Municipal District area.

"Kevin McCloskey is really pushing for Rossnowlagh to get proper public conveniences, and I think it's the number one priority of the Donegal Municipal District to get this sorted.

"I know the lack of public conveniences is an issue across other parts of Donegal, but I think Rossnowlagh has to take priority when you consider the sheer volume of people coming into the area every summer. We need to have a better facility for them, and I think it has to be dealt with immediately," said Kennedy.

At a meeting of the Donegal Municipal District in July, Naughton asked for a breakdown of costs in terms of what is being spent on the portaloos in Rossnowlagh.

At the time, Naughton said the issue was an example of "throwing good money after bad."

On Tuesday, Naughton once again asked for a breakdown on costs.

"I have asked for a breakdown on portaloos and public toilets on what we are spending in this Municipal District, and I'm a bit worried about why the information is not forthcoming. What is it costing us? That is all I want to know.

“I want the information so we can look at the bigger picture. At the end of the day, if you are in business, you can make financial decisions and you make the right decisions," said Naughton.

Paul Gallagher, an official in the Environment Section of Donegal County Council agreed on the issue of Rossnowlagh and the urgent need for public toilets in the area.

“Public conveniences, I agree with you in relation to Rossnowlagh. The provisional public conveniences are not optimal, and we are looking at a more long-term solution - but we are all on the one page here.”