The proposed ballroom at Donald Trump's hotel in Doonbeg is "hugely important" for the west Clare economy, according to a local councillor.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Fianna Fáil councillor Rita McInerney said: "The development is part of a longer-term strategy, a longer-term plan for the resort that has been there since before Donald Trump owned the property".
Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Doonbeg, on the edge of the Atlantic in west Clare, is facing a hearing at An Coimisiún Pleanála over its planned expansion.
After receiving permission for the construction of a new ballroom and other upgrades by Clare County Council recently, an objection was lodged with the commission.
Liam Madden, of Convent Road in Longford, contends that the planning documentation does not comply with the Planning Act and also points to what he describes as the marked deterioration of the 2mm Vertigo Angustior snail at the site.
He urged An Coimisiún Pleanála to "please refuse this nonsense".
Read more:
Trump Doonbeg ballroom plans stalled by sole objector living in Co Longford
Councillor McInerney said it was long established that there would be the development of a ballroom and other ancillary services, like leisure facilities, over the lifetime of the project.
She said that the local sand dunes are part of a Special Area of Conservation and are protected under European and Irish law
"Any proposal near the dunes has gone through detailed environmental assessment and that's what the planning system is there to do," she said.
"And indeed, eight of the conditions that were given with the planning approval recently, six of them relate to the environment and to archaeology and issues like that there's quite stringent conditions on the development".
Cllr McInerney said there have been surveys ongoing for about 20 years on the Vertigo Angustior snail and its survival.
"The figures have, from what I understand, been extremely good. And I suppose I would argue that if the coastal protection that was applied for a number of years ago was allowed to go ahead, the habitat in the dunes would have been further protected.
"So, it would allow for the build-up of the dune infrastructure, which is what the coastal protection was aimed to do.
If permission is refused, Cllr McInerney said the impact on the area will be "detrimental to the longevity of the season".
"In west Clare tourism is a huge part of our economy. There's a lot of people working in the golf club, both in the wintertime and in the summertime.
"I suppose it's about that shoulder season and that's why the development of the ballrooms or the function room is so important because it's about ensuring that the people have a year-round employment, which is very important.
"Tourism is a major employer and the resort has played a significant role in bringing visitors to west Clare and the development proposal, therefore, is hugely important in terms of extending out that season.
"So that would be detrimental to the longevity of the season for us in west Clare", she said.
The Irish Open will be held at the golf links this September.
