This will come as a relief. Literally.

Cork City Council has confirmed that the toilet facilities in North Main Street Shopping Centre will reopen to the public this weekend, following the completion of refurbishment work.

The toilets will be accessible between 7.30am and 9.30pm between Monday and Saturday, and between 11.30am and 9.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

The news follows the announcement that Cork City Council would not be providing temporary toilet facilities in the city centre, a move that has been taken in other Irish cities such as Dublin and Galway.

However, Cork County Council has confirmed that portaloos will be put in place in as many as 70 locations around the county.

County Councillor Ben Dalton O’Sullivan confirmed several of these sites, including:

• Crosshaven
• Myrtleville
• Church Bay
• Fountainstown
• Roberts Cove
• Kilnagleary Car Park
• Rocky Bay
• Roberts Bridge Carpark
• People’s Park, Carrigaline
• Haulbowline

These announcement come following a contentious weekend which provoked debate as to whether local authorities have the responsibility to provide facilities that match the demands of the public.