Calls for more money to be flushed into Moville toilets

An Inishowen Councillor is calling on Donegal County Council to pump more money into upgrading public toilets.

Councillors spoke at a meeting of Donegal County Council about the need to refurbish public conveniences throughout the county ahead of the summer season.

North Inishowen Labour Councillor Martin Farren would like to see the toilets in Moville given a complete overhaul before the tourist season – but says he is looking at the bigger picture of maintaining them to a certain standard so visitors and locals can spend a penny in comfort.

Councillor Farren is asking the Council to allocate money in the yearly budget for the maintenance of the toilets year-round.

“I would like to secure funding for the toilets before the summer but I am looking at the big picture that funding should be included in our budget at the end of the year. I secured funding for the ferries way back a few years ago to ensure that money would be there every year for the ferries.”

“Now I am looking to see if we can include a significant amount of money for our public conveniences. That money can be spent on the toilets and they can be refurbished to a reasonable standard, but that's not happening at the minute.”

Councillor Farren argues that Donegal County Council and Moville Tidy Towns can only do so much to have Moville Green looking well for everyone but it is no good if the toilets are run down.

“Over the last couple of years, I would have gotten work done to upgrade Moville Green. We are trying to encourage visitors to come to our town and we want to make them feel comfortable when they are here.”

“But the toilets can undo all that good work we have done, because they are not at the standard they should be at."

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Several locals in Moville have complained about the ongoing issue of vandalism at the toilets. Councillor Farren said he’s disappointed that some people were going in there and causing damage.

“I don't know why they do that. They lock the toilets, throw toilet rolls all around and turn the bins upside down. Things they shouldn't be doing, but there is a small element of people who do that type of thing. Unfortunately, it is difficult to catch them.”

“The caretaker of the toilets does his very best to try and keep them in good condition. But when people do these things, it makes it very difficult for everyone. It is sheer vandalism and I would ask the people who are doing it to please refrain from it because they shouldn't be doing it.”