THERE may be some light at the end of the tunnel for Listowel's long-running public toilet woes following an offer of help from a private businessman in Market Street where the current facility is located.

Last month, councillors heard that the town's public toilet will cost the authority €600,000 in the life of its contract. Last year alone it cost the council €37,950, but recoups very little — making only €1,500 in 2008. The council would have to pay €125,000 to get out of the contract, which is not due to expire until 2021.

Speaking at a town council meeting on Monday night, Cllr Tim O'Leary said he had been approached by businessman John Cronin with a potential way out of the difficulty.

"He is anxious to do something to get us out of this and says he is prepared to work with the town council here. As well as providing the facility, operating and maintaining it, he is also prepared to work through in breaking the contract with our facility," Cllr O'Leary explained.

Cllr O'Leary asked to explore the possibility of a public-private partnership between the council and Mr Cronin.

"Maybe we could work with him through public-private partnership? It's the way forward to work with people showing initiative and innovation," he said.

Mayor of Listowel, Tom Walsh, said he agreed wholeheartedly and commended Cllr O'Leary for his efforts to find way out of the long-running saga.

However, Town Manager Charlie O'Sullivan said he felt the project would probably not qualify for public-private partnership as the cost of the project would not be great enough.

"At a local level we would obviously consider working with local business people in matters of providing services. We're still working on our report on the matter, requested at the last meeting, but we would be very happy to have a look at Mr Cronin's proposal within that report," Mr O'Sullivan said.

- DONAL NOLAN dnolan@kerryman.ie