Inishowen learners ‘caught short’ after closure of toilets at Driving Test Centre

Inishowen learner drivers waiting to sit their tests have been 'caught short' following the closure of the public toilets at the Buncrana Driving Test Centre.

Cllr Fionan Bradley says he was contacted by a number of concerned locals, who were unable to use the toilets before going out on their test, thereby heaping more pressure on an already tense time.

“Sitting the driving test can be a nerve-wracking experience as it is. Those nerves are undoubtedly only further exasperated if you discover five minutes before your test begins that you can't use the toilet.”

“I have no doubt it would make concentrating during your test even more difficult,” Cllr Bradley said.

The RSA says the decision was “out of its hands” and has blamed the closure on the Department of Social Protection, which is in charge of the Driving Test Centre building, located at McCarter's Road, Buncrana.

Meanwhile, the Department says the decision to lock the public toilet in question was due to “consistent misuse”.

“The Department of Social Protection is not obliged to have public toilets, and many offices have removed toilet facilities where misuse was a consideration.”

“We have submitted a requisition order to OPW to have the door to this toilet fobbed, so that RSA staff can grant access; we expect this work to be carried out in the coming weeks.”

“It's unfortunate that the decision to close the public toilets in the [Buncrana] Test Centre had to be taken. I would strongly urge anyone who uses these public facilities to be respectful and to refrain from causing any damage to them,” a Department spokesperson added.

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However, Cllr Bradley has accused the Department of Social Protection of overreacting.

“In my view the Department has taken a sledgehammer to crack open a nut in relation to this issue.”

“It's welcome news that a fob will be added to the door so that RSA staff can open it for test applicants. It would have been better had this been done initially however, as opposed to closing the toilets without any notice.”

Cllr Bradley has appealed to anyone using public toilets anywhere to refrain from causing any damage to them.

“Apart from the cost of repairing them, your actions can have far-reaching consequences for other people, as evidenced in this particular instance,” he pointed out.