Údarás na Gaeltachta has reversed its decision to sell a holiday village in Connemara for €500,000 below the best bid.
Both Gael Linn and a Dublin-based consortium were passed over in favour of a lower bid from four local businessmen, including a former Fianna Fáil councillor and senator.
Údarás na Gaeltachta has been disposing of property in Gaeltacht areas due to funding cutbacks of more than €17 million, and the 13-house holiday complex at Eanach Mheain, Connemara, was earmarked for sale on this basis. A total of 11 bids were tendered on February 20th, and three bids were subsequently forwarded to the board for its monthly meeting in late February.
The highest bid of €1.955 million was lodged by a consortium of 13 people from Dublin, Meath and Leitrim led by Mr Paul McKeon, a businessman and accountant of Holmwood, Dublin 18.
The second highest bid of €1.505 million was lodged by Gael Linn, the Irish language organisation, which aimed to use the complex for educational courses - a proposal which matched the cultural aims of the Gaeltacht authority.
Lowest of the three bids, at €1.45 million, was lodged by former Fianna Fáil councillor and senator, Mr Niocls Ó Conchubhair, and three other local businessmen. They proposed to upgrade the houses into a four-star complex.
Údarás na Gaeltachta's management decided to accept the McKeon consortium bid, according to a memorandum obtained by Nuacht TG4. However, when the issue came up at the monthly board meeting, the authority's western sub-committee withdrew to discuss the proposal. The group is one of several regional committees within the authority dealing with matters pertaining to its immediate Gaeltacht area.
The sub-committee decided to accept the lowest bid by the Ó Conchubhair grouping on the basis that Mr Ó Conchubhair had a proven track record in local business and community development.
This was passed by the full board in spite of the fact that it was against the advice of its own management.