Taxi drivers want to spend a penny

TAXI drivers will have to continue to leave their rank to spend a penny, with the town manager describing the chances of providing a public toilet at Parnell Street as “slim to none”.
At Monday’s meeting of Ennis West Electoral Area councillors, Councillor Tony Mulqueen urged that a public toilet be provided at Parnell Street for both taxi drivers and car park customers.
“I’ve been hearing from taxi drivers that they are queuing for two and three hours for their next fare and there is no public convenience nearby. They have to drive their cars out of the queue and head home or go to a public convenience in another area. They then head back and have to queue again.
“A public convenience would also be of benefit to shoppers in the area, particularly as a lot of the licensed premises that people would often use now don’t open until the evening as a result of the downturn of the economy.”
Leonard Cleary, Ennis Town Council clerk, informed the meeting, “Public conveniences have been provided in the Market area and in Abbey Street. It should be noted that a public convenience has a significant annual cost and daily management requirement.
“The matter can be brought to the attention of Ennis Town Council if the committee so desires.”
This was emphasised by town manager Ger Dollard, who added that Abbey Street is not too far from Parnell Street.
“Public toilets are hugely expensive and Ennis Town Council came in for a degree of criticism for investing in what’s there,” he said.
While Mr Dollard said he believed there is a “slim to none” chance of the toilets getting the go-ahead, he agreed the matter could be put before Ennis Town Council for discussion.
Mr Dollard concluded by saying, “We are better than many other towns in relation to public conveniences”.