€2.4m to ‘spend a penny’ on superloos

THE net expenditure of almost €2.5million to allow people “spend a penny” in four Clare local authority superloos over a 20-year period has been criticised as “excessive” by Councillor Brian Meaney.
The Clare Champion can exclusively reveal local authorities in Clare will pay €2.873million to a Dublin company over 20 years for two superloos in Ennis and one in Kilkee and Killaloe. This includes VAT at €13.5%, which is recoverable from Revenue, resulting in a net expenditure of €2.499,729 for the duration of the contract.
Based on income receipts in 2011, local authorities could expect to earn a gross income of just €105,300 over 20 years and a net return of €91,711 when VAT is deducted.
Details of the overall cost emerged after Kilrush Town Council decided to terminate its 20-year contract taken out on August 1999 making a net saving of €178,200 after a €53,200 penalty is included. The annual cost was €31,640 and the annual income was about €1,200.
Councillor Meaney claimed the total cost over the 20 years is “excessive” as local authorities still have to cover the cost of disposing all the waste from automated public conveniences.
Acknowledging that public conveniences are necessary, Councillor Meaney noted the contracts were signed in a different era before any EU bailout and stressed there is a need to provide a more cost-effective solution.
Having observed a community run public toilet on the Dingle Peninsula, Councillor Meaney proposed the council should consider providing a smaller version of the public convenience in a modern facility supervised by a caretaker. He also requested the council to increase the cost of using a superloo to €1.
However, director of services, Ger Dollard insists the provision of these facilities represent “excellent value for money” when compared to the alternatives.
JCDecaux, 6 Sandyford Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 has a 20-year contract with Clare local authorities for the provision of four superloos in Ennis (2), Kilkee and Killaloe.
Ennis Town Council paid €35,912 for each superloo while the superloos in Kilkee and Killaloe cost Clare County Council €35,919 per unit.

When 13.5% VAT is deducted the annual net cost is about €31,640.
Contracts are for a 20-year duration; Ennis contracts commenced in 1997, Kilkee in 1998 and Killaloe in 2000.
In 2011, Ennis superloo generated €3,007.65 in receipts, Killaloe €1,302.90 and Kilkee €956.55.
VAT must be paid on income so net income to council is reduced by 13.5%
The charge at each superloo varies. In Ennis it is 25 cent, Killaloe 30 cents and Kilkee 25 cent.
Using the charges listed, it means 12,030 people used the Ennis unit, 4,343 used the Killaloe unit and 3,826 used the Kilkee superloo last year.
Twelve months notice of any termination must be given. If there is more than three years to run on the contract, a payment of 25% of the rent amount that would be payable from termination date to end of contract period applies.
If less than three years is left on the contract, the applicable figure is 15% of the rent amount. It would cost the county council €63,280 to terminate its contract for the Killaloe superloos, in addition to the cost of removal of the convenience and clearance of site and connections.
Mr Dollard pointed out the annual average cost of providing an automated public convenience of €35,000 includes the capital cost as well as a comprehensive maintenance schedule.
“Historically, toilets provided by local authorities were very poor structures and gave rise to many maintenance problems to such an extent that the public were slow to use such toilets. The buildings also caused a variety of problems including behaviour of an anti-social nature.
“There is an expectation amongst the general public and particularly visitors to major towns that public toilet facilities are available and are maintained to a very high standard. The automated public conveniences in Ennis and Killaloe are very heavily used throughout the summer period. These facilities an important service for customers to businesses in the towns and visitors/tourists in the area,” he explains.
“I do not think it would be positive for the promotion of our towns if public toilet facilities were not available to those visiting or spending time in the area. The council has recently received a request for the provision of a further automated public convenience in Ennis.”
“In the council’s view there is no ‘saving’ in terms of removing such facilities. The result is a loss of a public service and elimination of the associated costs. If we close Lees Road, one could argue we save money but at what loss to the community.
“In addition the impacts in terms of Tidy Towns status, Heritage Towns status, (Kilrush and Killaloe) and the likely impact on reputation status on towns the size of Ennis from reviews in publications such as Lonely Planet etc need also to be considered,” he added.
The council is examining the merits of a standardisation of the charge.