The Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr. Ian McGarvey has expressed his shock and anger that the Council has found it necessary to close the public toilets at Rathmullan for four days this week after only being officially opened seven weeks earlier.
The Tirconnail Tribune reports that portaloos are back in use at Rathmullan Pier since Monday, as construction work recommenced on the new public toilets.
The new facility was officially opened on June 1st at what was once known as the Old Potato Store site. Seven weeks on, the closure of the toilets has been met with incredulity and disbelief by local residents who’ve contacted the Tribune to raise their concerns.
The council has told the newspaper that the four day closure was necessary in order to make ‘final adjustments and to enable the building to be handed over fully operational and complete in time for the busy Festival period’.
As works got underway, the sound of kango hammers, men and machinery compete with the music from Mohan’s Fun Fair and the laughter of children as the seaside town preparing for its 20th annual community festival.
Concrete dug up at Rathmullan Public Toilets
Cllr. McGarvey has contacted Donegal County Council seeking clarification and visited Rathmullan on Wednesday to witness the work in progress and attempt to find out how any public facility could have been officially opened before it was fully operational.
“There is no way I am going to accept that story,” he commented.
Cllr. McGarvey said: “I am seeking answers about what has gone wrong. There is no way that I am going to accept the excuse that these toilets were opened without being fully completed.
I am angry was shocked to hear from the public that the toilets were shut down for three days and the issue should have been clarified to the local electoral areas members.”
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Gerry McMonagle and Letterkenny Municipal District Mayor , Jimmy Kavanagh with local community group and council representatives opening of the new Public Conveniences, Changing Rooms and Information Hub in Rathmullan. Photo Clive Clive Wasson
He continued: “We’ve been left in the dark about the closure and I’m seeking details from the Council about why, at the very height of the tourist season that the new toilet facility costing hundreds of thousands of Euros was not available to the public.
“There is no way that I’m going to accept the claim that the toilets closure was needed to make final adjustments and to make them fully operational. That is totally unacceptable and we are now being asked to accept that for seven weeks the toilets were not fully operational. Had that been the case we would not all have been down in Rathmullan for the official opening on June 1st.”
“Surely, Donegal County Council and Irish Water have serious questions to answer about what is going on and to clarify the need for this work around the new building. A large amount of concrete has been dug up… manholes seem to have been replaced and work has been carried out to the rear of the building and I’m informed that works have also been ongoing inside the building.
“Surely after all the time it took to get the toilets, they would not have been allowed to open before all final adjustments were completed and fully tested.”
A statement issued by administration at the Rathmullan and District Resource Centre noted: “The new Public Conveniences at Rathmullan Pier have been in use now since the 1st June and have proved very successful.
“In order to make the final adjustments and improvements to the building it will be necessary to close the facility on Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th July and Thursday 26th July.
On these days temporary toilet facilities, including a disabled booth will be available beside the dingy compound.
We apologise for the inconvenience and the work will enable the building to be handed over fully operational and complete in time for the busy Festival period.”
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