It’s claimed every effort must be made over the coming weeks to source funding to ensure people have access to public toilet facilities across the county this summer.
Clare Councillors have called on the local authority to engage with relevant stakholders to ensure facilties are upgraded ahead of an expected busy staycation season this summer.
Clare County Council is being called on to engage with Coilte, relevant government departments and others providing walking trails, to make temporary toilet facilities and additional parking available.
The motion from Cllrs. Pat McMahon, P.J. Ryan agus Pat Daly comes in light of the increased demand for outdoor activities as covid restrictions ease.
The local authority has also been encouraged to look at its own amenities, and in response says it’s committed to the development of toilet facilities at Ballyallia Lake near Ennis, but this will be dependent on funding.
Sixmilebridge Independent Councillor PJ Ryan says it’s often not cost effective to run these facilities but he insists a solution needs to be found so that people can access facilties across the county this summer.
Businesses where food is sold are now able to apply for grants of up to 4,000 euro to transform their outdoor dining experience ahead of the summer.
But a former Mayor of Clare thinks it’s illogical to provide grants for this, without providing funding for toilet facilities for those who buy food and drink from those places.
Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy says the pandemic has given people an enhanced interest in the outdoors and she doens’t believe that will end in the post-covid era.
She’s acknowledged the Council’s willingness to investigate sources of funding and hopes efforts will be successful.
