Council steps up toilet servicing after grim scenes at tourist hotspots
Donegal County Council has increased the servicing of portable toilets at busy coastal hotspots following a major surge in visitor numbers.
Extra servicing visits have been carried out over the past week as exceptionally good weather and holiday traffic piled pressure on public conveniences across the county.
It comes after public representatives across the county's districts raised concerns over grim conditions at a number of locations and demanded answers over the current servicing arrangements.
Reports reaching the Independent Councillor Michael McClafferty in North Donegal, which includes Dunfanaghy, Marble Hill, Killahoey and Magheroarty, included overflowing toilets, nappies and sanitary products discarded around facilities and people allegedly urinating and defecating on lawns and beaches.
“The public are absolutely raging red hot with us councillors all over Donegal over the situation. It's simply not on or not good enough,” Cllr McClafferty said.
“There is talk of people urinating on people's lawns and sh*ting on lawns and beaches, then covering it up with sand, and others not bothering. This is mad stuff.”
Cllr McClafferty has asked to see the existing contract before the next plenary meeting of Donegal County Council, where he wants the matter discussed.
Similar concerns have also been raised in south Donegal, where councillors described overflowing portaloos and delays in servicing at Rossnowlagh and Bundoran following another exceptionally busy weekend of events including the Irish Surfing Junior Tour in Bundoran and the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh.
Members of the Donegal Municipal District called for an urgent meeting with the supplier.
Donegal County Council has now clarified that servicing arrangements vary throughout the summer.
Portable toilets are serviced twice weekly during June and September and three times weekly during July and August.
The Council said the frequency can also be increased to respond to demand.
“In response to the significant increase in visitor numbers experienced across the county in recent weeks, the number of servicing visits has already been enhanced over the past week,” a spokesperson said.
“Council staff have also been engaging directly with the service provider regarding issues reported at specific locations.”
Councillor McClafferty had earlier said Donegal was becoming a “victim of our own success”, with hundreds, if not thousands, flocking to Dunfanaghy and the county's beaches during spells of good weather.
“Portable toilets serve a purpose up to a point, but two or three on a busy beach is simply not enough," he said.
“It seems to be an ongoing fighting match trying to get toilets and facilities in our towns, villages, beaches and tourist attractions. It should not be that way.
“We want to attract visitors here and we need them to enjoy a good experience when they come to the county.
“If the conveniences aren't there, people may come to an area, but only once. They won't be back.”
Seasonal portable toilets are provided at 38 coastal locations across Donegal.
The Council has acknowledged that the current spell of exceptionally good weather has placed “considerable pressure” on public toilet facilities, particularly temporary portable units.
It said the scale of Donegal's coastline also presents significant servicing and operational challenges.
The current arrangements are now being actively reviewed and a meeting with the service provider has been scheduled to examine the maintenance programme and recent service issues.
The Council said further servicing and other measures for the busiest locations will also be considered.
See more: Donegal councillors demand action over overflowing beach portaloos
Fury over damage to toilets at popular coastal spot
This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme