Suspected Planning Irregularities in Waterford

deisemum

The Irish Independent have a report that Gardai have interviewed members of the Waterford County Council and are planning on interviewing members of the Waterford City Council in relation to suspect planning irregularities.

The issue came to light after a member of the public brought the allegations to an elected representative who informed the Gardai

Investigations are at an early stage.

longshanks

name names

deisemum

There aren't any names mentioned

Nolanger

Is Waterford City ever in the national media for a good reason?

mike65

Its not the city, its Dungarvan

Mike.

deisemum

The Gardai are planning on interviewing city council staff as well as the county council staff

JohnC.

Saw the story on Six One News. Councilors complaining about being questioned for up to 90 minutes in their home. Perhaps they would prefer to be brought to the station next time then.

Cabaal

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0322/waterford.html

Gardaí in Waterford are investigating new allegations into planning matters which has led them to interview county councillors and senior officials with Waterford County Council.

Gardaí say the matters relate to the potential rezoning of up to 300 acres of land in the Dungarvan area.

Last month, Waterford County Council proposed to amend its County Development Plan and rezone up to 300 acres of land near Dungarvan from agricultural to economic use as a way to help develop industry.
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Submissions on the proposal can be made up to next Thursday. It will probably be another few months before a decision is made on whether the land will be rezoned.

These current Garda inquiries do not relate to other previous investigations into planning matters in Co Waterford.

Local Fine Gael TD John Deasy said that last summer a man contacted him about planning allegations.

Mr Deasy then contacted the gardaí, who started looking into the matter. The investigation has led to gardaí interviewing most of the two dozen county councillors, and up to six council officials, in their homes in the past few days. The remaining interviews are expected to take place today.

Nobody has been arrested and there are no allegations against any of the officials or sitting councillors.

A number of county councillors have told RTÉ News they are gobsmacked at this turn of events.

It is not known if something like this has happened anywhere else in the country before now.

As already mentioned, if they don't like being asked questions at home bring em to the station

TheFlatulator

I would have to say that because your in public office or politics, you give up that right to be treated like a private citizen

Mossy Monk

Exactly. They're representing all of us. Bring them to the station next time if home questioning is too much.

tonc76

I think the complaint about being questioned in their homes was relating to gardai breaking down the door of one of the council employees at 600 to question him. 5 gardai to be precise.

And here was I worried that the council was wasting of taxpayers money:eek:

Roanmore

Report on RTE Drivetime today said it concerned rezoning of 500 acres to the west of Dungarvan. John Gormely has told WCC that if submitted it will be rejected (think it may have been rejected already and went back with almost no changes). Apparantely the NRA were considering some compulsory purchase orders of the land and if it had been rezoned it would have made a number of people very rich. No councillors or people from the Planning dept. are suspected of being involved and one name keeps coming up. This was all from the radio report.