An investigation by RTE has revealed that more than €170,000 has been spent on three reports concerning alleged planning irregularities in Donegal County Council.
A programme last night, entitled Council Chamber Secrets, looked at unpublished reports and the lack of implications as a result of information not being made public.
Among the councils in the spotlight was Donegal County Council and the case of former senior planner Gerard Convie. Mr Convie worked with the council for more than 20 years, until 2000, when he was accused of not declaring an interest in a property that was the subject of a pre-planning meeting. He was sacked by Environment Minister, Noel Dempsey, at the council’s request.
Mr Convie took his case to the High Court. The case was settled, with Donegal County Council clarifying that it had not made any allegations of corruption or wrongdoing. The charge of misconduct was withdrawn.
Mr Convie resigned and went into private practice, studying what he believed were irregularities with the planning section in Donegal. On the back of his case studies, Minister John Gormley ordered an inquiry into the allegations against Donegal County Council and separate issues in other counties. The report was published in 2012 but found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Three years later, new Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly initiated another inquiry. Senior counsel Rory Mulcahy completed and delivered a 300 page report in June 2017. However, efforts to have the report released have failed.
RTE Investigates revealed that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said that Minister Darragh O’Brien would bring the report to Government “in due course”.
Donegal County Council also confirmed to researchers that its role is to assist and cooperate with all statutory inquiries and it is hoped the historical issues involving the allegations can be finalised as soon as possible.
In all, the programme found that the Department has spent more than €170,000 on its three reports, which does not include the cost of its own internal resources and legal bills.
Green Party TD Patrick Costello, who has campaigned for the report to be released, said: “It’s a fundamental public importance that this report comes out.
“It’s only by seeing what’s in this report and understanding the irregularities and what caused them and what was behind them that we can take steps to prevent the next one.”
