Clare County Council has given the green light for a new ballroom at the US President Donald Trump-owned Trump Doonbeg golf resort in west Clare.
However before work can commence on the permanent ballroom structure that will have capacity for 320 people, the Council is requiring Trump Doonbeg firm, TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd, to draw up a Management Plan for the protected snail, the 2mm Vertigo Angustior.
In one of the 14 conditions attached to the permission, the Council has requested Trump Doonbeg to submit the Vertigo Angustior Management Plan to the Council for approval and the plan is to include conservation management actions to restore favourable status of the Vertigo Angustior on the Trump Doonbeg lands.
The rare snail is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and along with the Management Plan, Trump Doonbeg is to also draw up a programme of monitoring of the Vertigo Angustior to be agreed with State agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), for the maintenance of favourable conservation status.
The Council states the reason for inserting the condition concerning the Vertigo Angustior is to provide for adequate protection measures for areas of conservation importance and to ensure compliance with the EU Habitats Directive.
As part of a raft of reports lodged with the planning application by the applicant firm, a report concluded that the proposed works "will have no impact on Vertigo Angustior, and no mitigation or further action is required".
Survey and fieldwork monitoring of the Vertigo Angustior took place last September in preparation for the planning application and the report found that the snail's conservation status at Doonbeg remains unfavourable where it states that the Vertigo Angustior is in terminal decline there.
The report attributes the snail's decline at the site to marine erosion and habitat succession.
The council granted planning permission for the proposal after concluding that the ballroom proposal would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.
The planning authority has granted planning permission for the ballroom and other upgrade works at the resort after a wave of local support resulted in several local organisations, including Doonbeg GAA, Doonbeg's Men's Shed, and Doonbeg Community Development Ltd lodging submissions in support of the proposal.
The Council received 17 third party submissions and 13 were in favour of the proposal and Doonbeg GAA told the council that if granted, the proposed works "will significantly increase and enhance the tourism product on offer in the area and provide long term sustainable employment which is so badly needed".
The submission states that "TIGL has supported and assisted local businesses to develop and expand by actively encouraging its own customers to shop locally and to use local bars and restaurants".
On the plan to replace existing "outdated" temporary events structures, including a marquee, with the new permanent ballroom, planning consultants for Trump Doonbeg, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds stated that the need for the ballroom "is reinforced by the socio-economic role of Trump International Golf Links and Hotel within west Clare".
The report stated that high-quality event facilities support off-peak visitation, business tourism, weddings and conferences that extend the tourism season and diversify the resort's offering beyond golf alone.
The planning statement states that the Healy Partners Architects designed proposal "strengthens the resort's hospitality infrastructure, enhances guest experience, and supports the continued viability of one of the region’s most important tourism assets".
The 58-page planning report stated that the proposal establishes "a coherent, high-quality and enduring addition to the resort's hospitality offering".
The new building is to accommodate a main function room, reception and pre-function areas, bar and hospitality spaces, a bridal suite, guest toilets and comprehensive back-of-house facilities.
The report stated that the design "is contemporary yet sympathetic to the architectural character of the existing hotel campus".
It also stated that by upgrading essential resort infrastructure and improving the quality, safety and integration of the hotel facilities, "the development reinforces the role of this internationally recognised resort as a key economic driver for Doonbeg and west Clare".
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
