The public toilets close to St Stephen's Green at Grafton Street will close in the coming weeks, Dublin City Council has confirmed.
In a statement to RTÉ, the council said the toilets were put in place as an emergency measure during the Covid-19 pandemic as all businesses had closed their premises to the public.
"The main reason for their removal is that these units were only a temporary measure in first instance, and while they have remained in place longer than anticipated, it was always the intention to replace the units with a permanent solution," the council said.
The toilets, which were opened five years ago, have seen a decline in the number of people using them, which was also cited as a reason for the planned closure.
Usage has gone down from 18,000 people per week at the peak of the pandemic to 1,500 people per week, according to figures provided by the local authority.
The council added that the owner of the units is ceasing trading and has requested that the toilets be removed.
The units were installed under a lease and maintenance basis, at a cost of €30,000 - €35,000 per month, which includes all security, cleaning, and consumables costs.
The council said there are plans to install permanent toilets at a location in the Grafton Street area to serve the south side of the city, and a location in O'Connell Street to serve the north side.
However, these proposals will not be put forward until the end of this year.
"It is our intention to replace these units with a permanent solution in accordance with regulatory compliance and we will bring proposals forward in Q4 of 2025," the council said.
Dublin City Council said they will co-ordinate with Travsdev, the operator of the Luas, to find a time for their removal when the Luas lines are shut.
