KINSALE’S new public toilets, which are to include baby changing facilities, are expected to be installed before Christmas and will be fully operational before the end of the year, a meeting heard last week.
Municipal District Officer Brian Dunne told councillors at a meeting of the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District of progress at the Town Plots site.
He said: ‘Civil works will commence to prepare the site, which includes relocating a mini pillar to facilitate an ESB connection. It is anticipated that the modular block will be installed before the Christmas period.’
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The delay in progressing the construction of the new toilets was put down to conservation issues, which have now been resolved.
There are currently two temporary toilets at the same location but these are inadequate to cater for the numbers visiting the town.
The new modular block will include three unisex toilets as well as one disabled toilet, which is to include baby changing facilities.
Council officials had to revise their original plans after councillors said they would only back the plans if they included baby changing facilities.
Meanwhile, Mr Dunne outlined that Kinsale Museum has had 8,373 visitors since the start of the year, with the numbers peaking in July (1,213), August (1,386) and September (1,374).
He added that they will be working with the museum curator to agree to a programme of works for 2026.
He also told councillors in relation to parking in the town that 60% of the income collected comes from the dual parking meters.
‘We anticipate that the use of the cash only meters will reduce further with the uptake of the parking app, which was introduced in September.’
The cashless parking service is now available in all Council-operated parking spaces within the pay parking zone in Kinsale.
He also told councillors that Cork County Council has agreed not to enforce pay parking requirements in both Bandon and Kinsale for the period from December 1st to January 4th.
‘In order to ensure a flow of traffic and turnover of spaces we will still be enforcing the maximum two hour stay period,’ he added.
