Councillors in Tuam, Co Galway, learned this week that a 6ft sq public superloo for the town would cost €500,000.
Mr Stephen Lally, town engineer, told Tuam Town Commissioners that tenders had been received for the provision of public lavatories in Tuam and Loughrea, costing €500,000 each.
Mr Lally explained that the public toilets were automatic, self-cleaning units, which required no maintenance. He added that a decision on their provision would be made soon.
"Half a million euro for six-ft square of cast iron is very expensive. I'm sure that it could be provided at a much cheaper cost," Cllr Paul O'Grady said.
"You would nearly build a small hotel for that amount of money," he added.
While councillors expressed shock at the cost of the lavatories, they urged Galway County Council to proceed with the project as soon as possible, as it was unacceptable that a town the size of Tuam had no public toilets.