Roscrea hotel feasibility study 'waste of taxpayers money' says local TD

The decision to spend €150,000 on a feasibility study to investigate the potential to rejuvenate a closed hotel in Roscrea town centre has been described as 'stupid' and a 'waste of taxpayers money' by a Tipperary TD.

The government are currently examining the former hotel premises on Castle Street, formerly the famous Pathé Hotel and in later years rebranded as the Damer Court. 

€150,000 has been provided by the Government for a feasibility and structural report on the former Grants Hotel, formerly a 24-bedroom business which has been vacant since it was shut down with the loss of 20 jobs in 2013.

“This initiative will provide a 24 ensuite bedroom hotel, not just for visitors but will be a community led enterprise providing a creche, meals on wheels, community hub among others”, local Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Smith told this newspaper in June, after he and party colleague, Deputy Jackie Cahill announced their plans for a community hotel after the sudden closure of the Racket Hall Hotel in Januray.

The erection of a sale sign on the hotel last month caused some concerns among local people and people in the town are eager for confirmation the community hotel proposal will proceed.

However, Labour’s Tipperary TD, Alan Kelly was scathing in criticism which he published on his website on Wednesday, labelling the entire proposal as "stupid".

“There has been so much public anger lately about the waste of public money whether is bike sheds, security huts or other issues. The Government decision to take away the Racket Hall, the only functioning hotel in Roscrea earlier this year, was stupid and they have admitted it was wrong", Deputy Kelly said.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right though and the decision of the Government to try and placate public anger by looking to take over the former Grants Hotel in the town centre is as some form of public run hotel is even more stupid.

“The taxpayers of Ireland are not hoteliers.

“The officials in Government departments think this is ridiculous and dare I say it Failte Ireland are bemused by it. Even Ministers are privately throwing their eyes up to heaven at the idea.

“What’s worse is they are spending €150,000 of taxpayers money on a feasibility study for this.

“Now the laughable thing is that the owner of the hotel has it up for sale so where is the €150,000 going now? Is it still going ahead? How much has been spent?

“I asked the Minister responsible for this waste, Heather Humphrey’s what was going to happen in the Dail today? Are they going to buy the hotel now? I didn’t receive an answer.

“Realistically, are the state going to buy a derelict hotel? Are they going to refurbish it to Failte Ireland and building standards? Are they going to find some entity to run it and make it a viable proposition for generations?

“They shouldn’t take the taxpayer for fools.

“I want this €150,000 spent in Roscrea. I want multiples of it spent. However the Garda station isn’t open the hours it needs to be as there are not enough Gardai around. One Gardai recently had to come down from Newport for 6 months to give cover?

"Surely the money would be better used for this purpose or the new secondary school that is required are Colaiste Phobal or progressing the requirement of a new Nursing Home than this absolutely ridiculous waste,” Deputy Kelly said.