Tipperary TD Alan Kelly says 'Roscrea hotel plan was always a joke'

In a statement shared this week, Tipperary TD Alan Kelly said:

“The fact that Tipperary County Council has finally said publicly what we all knew that they will not be purchasing the Damer Court Hotel in Roscrea shows that this idea that a community Hotel could be created was always a joke from the beginning.

“The fact that the government granted €150,000 to do a feasibility study on the creation of a community Hotel was a huge waste of taxpayers money and should never have happened.

“There was no way on the wide earthly world that Tipperary County Council or the government or any other agency were going to create a community hotel in the location.

READ NEXT: 'Golden opportunity for Tipperary lost' - birthplace of GAA not properly celebrated says local Councillor

“The simple fact of the matter is that this idea came about because the government and in particular Fianna Fáil came under so much pressure after the decision of the same government to close the Racket Hall hotel in the town and use it for IPAS accommodation. This was a stupid and ridiculous decision to take out the one remaining hotel and social gathering outlet in Roscrea.

“Having spoken to many people in tourism and being a former manager for Bord Fáilte and Fáilte Ireland I always believed that this whole idea was stupid. I think it's also totally irresponsible for the government and Fianna Fáil to be giving the people of Roscrea a false hope when in reality such a plan was never viable.

“The only hope for the future of the hotel is that some company or individual will purchase it and decide to turn it into a new business given its fantastic location in Roscrea.”