Ex-county manager takes controversial job

THE former county manager of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) has, within months of retiring, taken up a senior position with a development company behind a controversial high-rise development in south Dublin, the Dáil was told last night.

Progressive Democrat TD Liz O’Donnell said the appointment of Derek Brady to a senior position with Alburn Limited created a compelling “perception of Mr Brady having been in a conflict of interest in relation to this development.”

She said his appointment required an investigation by the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche.

The PD deputy for Dublin South said: “This company is the property development company for the former MJ Flood site in Sandyford Business Estate where planning permission was granted on July 27 of this year for the development including 259 apartments and a 24-storey tower rising 162m over sea level.

“It would be the highest structure in the south county.

“This proposal has been highly controversial resulting in over 100 submissions opposing the proposal to DLRCC, including myself.

“The matter is now on appeal to An Bord Pleanála.”

Ms O’Donnell further contended that objections relating to scale and height and inappropriateness were largely ignored by the DLRCC.

“Mr Brady was the ultimate deciding officer at the time when permission was granted. Three months later, Mr Brady has taken up a senior and highly-paid position with Alburn.”

Ms O’Donnell, who raised the matter during an adjournment debate, said the appointment raised “the most serious issues, not least, the integrity of the planning process.”

Responding Junior Minister Noel Ahern said that because of the new seven-year contracts for managers, some retired at a younger age and pursued other career opportunities. He said there was nothing wrong with that.

Mr Ahern agreed, however, that the issue in this case was “one of avoiding undesirable conflicts and the perception thereof.”

He said that there was a code of conduct in place for senior civil servants since 2004 but none for local authority employees. He said that this matter would now be reviewed.