Lowry: Work on casino to begin by year-end

INDEPENDENT TD Michael Lowry has said work could begin by the end of the year on a €460 million casino and leisure development he has supported, following the decision by An Bord Pleanála to approve much of the project.

The board’s decision came despite a recommendation for refusal by its own planning inspector who conducted an oral hearing into the planned Tipperary Venue earlier this year.

Inspector Pauline Fitzpatrick said in her report that the 800-acre complex would be “premature”; in contravention of the National Spatial Strategy and Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines; car-dependent; and “prejudicial” to the protection of the area’s architectural heritage.

However, the appeals board has given the green light to many features of the Tipperary Venue plan including a 500-bed hotel/casino, golf course, turf and all-weather horseracing tracks, greyhound racing circuit, and a replica of the White House.

However, the board refused permission for a 15,000-capacity indoor entertainment venue on the grounds that it was “not appropriate”.

The project is the brainchild of businessman Richard Quirke who is planning to build the complex on an 800-acre site at Two-Mile-Borris, outside Thurles.

Mr Lowry — who said he has lent his weight to the proposal from the outset because of its economic potential for the region — described the board’s approval as “fantastic news” and said the project represents “a beacon of light and a ray of hope” for the area.

“I’ve no doubt this has the ability to transform the economy of Tipperary and the whole region.”

He hoped Justice Minister Alan Shatter would shortly bring forward legislation allowing potential casino operators to apply for a gaming licence, based on the Government’s Review Commission on Gaming.

“It’s envisaged that land work will commence before the end of the year,” he said, adding that the site preparation and infrastructural work alone will cost about €30m.

Mr Quirke welcomed the An Bord Pleanála approval as a move “which advances the implementation of my vision and ambition for this site”.

An Taisce chairman Charles Stanley-Smith said the board’s decision was “in contravention” of the National Spatial Strategy’s policy of locating new development in existing designated regional centres, and in contravention of national climate and transport policy to curtail car-based development.

“In disregarding the inspector’s overall refusal recommendation, An Bord Pleanála have failed to meet the requirements under EU law for evaluating projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.”

However, president of Thurles Chamber of Commerce Austin Broderick said it was “unbelievable” for the town.

“We have nothing in Thurles and nothing in the surrounding areas regarding jobs. This is as good as getting three factories for us.”

Giving its decision, An Bord Pleanála said that, given the amount of land required for a racecourse and greyhound track, “such uses were appropriate outside an urban setting” while a hotel and casino were “acceptable uses in conjunction with the greyhound and horseracing track to form an integrated tourism/recreation destination”.