PRANKSTERS HAVE SOUGHT to highlight what they see as the dangers of continued “profligate spending” that was prevalent in the years prior to Ireland’s economic collapse by posting a notice, including a mock-up, seeking planning permission to build a dry ski slope right in the heart of Dublin city.

The ‘Plan for Application’ seeks permission for the construction of a ‘Dry Ski Slope Leisure Complex’ which would include a dry ski slope, ski lifts, equipment hire and a licensed café and bar in Redmond’s Hill in central Dublin, near the Dublin Institue of Technology’s Aungier Street building.

The ‘application’ by the ‘NAMA Development Council’ includes a mock-up of what the ski slope might look like and says that it expects the project will be completed by May 2012.

However a quick look at the small print reveals that it is the work of satirists who are warning that despite the troubles of recent years caused by the financial collapse, we still may not have learnt our lesson:

When contacted this afternoon a spokesperson for NAMA confirmed to TheJournal.ie that “it is a hoax” and there doesn’t appear to be any plans to build such a ski slope in central Dublin nor is NAMA in anyway associated with the hoax.

This is what the area currently looks like and as you can see the proposed ski slope would  see the Bishop’s Square building in the background either blocked out or knocked down.

(via Google Maps)

We’re not sure how well that would go down with the building’s current residents including the staff of the Irish Sun, the News of the World and The Sunday Times newspapers which are all based there as are staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government departments…

The ‘NAMA ski slope’ is also being discussed on boards.ie >