A hotel, golf course and equestrian centre are included in a leisure complex proposed for the grounds of Clongowes Wood College.
A planning application has been lodged with Kildare County Council for the rezoning of 249 acres of agricultural land on the north side of the school, which is run by the Jesuits, according to the Kildare Nationalist. The golf course will be separate from the existing 9 hole course available to students.
Estimates put the value of the rezoned land at almost €50 million. Agricultural land in the area is currently fetching €20,000 per acre, but commercial land would earn about €200,000 an acre.
The new complex, which would require a material contravention of the county development plan, would also include a conference centre and tennis courts.
The development would form a major regional amenity and tourist attraction, the planning application states.
Under the proposed development, drawn up by Keith Simpson & Associates, the college grounds and building would be protected.
A spokesman for the Jesuit Communication Centre, Mr Gary O'Sullivan, said the order had intended selling its 300-acre farm in 2001, but was deterred when it emerged that a possible buyer would seek to rezone the land for residential use under the Kildare County Development Plan.
"We could have had a massive housing estate in the grounds," said Mr O'Sullivan. "We wanted to preserve the integrity of the landscape around the college."
By seeking to have the land rezoned themselves, the Jesuits can control its development.
"We were advised to draw up our own development plan and submit it because Kildare council is drawing up its new five-year development plan. If we sold the land to a farmer who got it rezoned it would have major implications for the college. We are trying to protect the area and use the land."
If the planning application is rejected, Mr O'Sullivan added, the Jesuits will be quite happy to leave the land zoned as agricultural.
The proposal envisages a cordon sanitaire - a large stretch of non-developed land around the school building, the playing fields and the approach avenue.
"Our only modus operandi was to see how to protect these lands for the future," Mr O'Sullivan said.
All income from the complex would go into a trust fund set up by the order. All money must be used for the education and training of priests; for the care of sick priests and aged clerics and burials; for the upkeep of churches and public chapels; for the maintenance and upkeep of schools and colleges, for general education of religious and secular, of children and young people.
It could also be used for charitable purposes considered true to the terms of the trust.