The developer of a sail-training marina facility in Kenmare, Co Kerry, has submitted an application to Kerry County Council to convert the upper floor of the main building into a restaurant.
The alteration would mean eliminating the sail-training area on the floor, and putting the training classroom underfloor in an area originally intended to support the building during construction.
The agent for the developer, Daniel McCarthy, of Dereenacallaha, Kenmare, yesterday rejected a suggestion the proposal would represent a change of use, or that the main emphasis would be on the restaurant.
The Kenmare marina was approved for more than €752,000 in grant aid in a budget 2000 allocation by Minister for the Marine Frank Fahey. So far the centre has drawn €333,000. The money was paid out in 2001, and no new application to draw down money has been received, a spokesman for the Department of the Marine said.
The main marine store building of the marina was demolished before Christmas after it was found not to have complied with planning permission. The building has been rebuilt.
In a submission, An Taisce said in the original application the coffee shop was part of the ancillary facilities.
This was being run as a public restaurant, and the proposal to extend the coffee shop into the adjoining sail-training area meant "the main emphasis on the project would be on the restaurant business", said Dr Catherine McMullin.
Tim Moynihan, of TMA consulting engineers, agents for the application, said six people were employed full-time in the facility. He alleged the new proposal was not a change of use.