LATEST: Roscrea Hotel plan 'was always a joke' says Tipp TD

On Monday Tipperary County Council confirmed they have no plans to purchase the closed Damer Court Hotel in Roscrea and the saga has been described as "a joke" by a Tipperary TD this morning (Feb 17).

North Tipperary Labour TD, Deputy Alan Kelly, told the Tribune he predicted no government agency would take over the running of the landmark hospitality business on Roscrea's Castle Street which closed in 2013.

Mark Connolly, Director of Finance, said Tipperary County Council "have no plans to purchase the hotel in Roscrea" at a Municipal Council meeting for the Roscrea area on Monday morning.

"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," Deputy Kelly said..

"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.

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"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.

"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 Hotel 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," Deputy Kelly said.

Deputy Kelly said that having spoken to many people in tourism and being a former manager for Bord Failte and Failte Ireland "I always believed that this whole idea was stupid."

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"I think it's also totally irresponsible for the government and Fianna Fail 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," Deputy Kelly said..