Row rages over council links to developers

A KERRY councillor yesterday rejected a request from county manager Martin Riordan to withdraw an allegation that Kerry County Council was “in bed” with major developers.

Independent Councillor Brendan Cronin also said council engineers were leaving to work with private developers, who were showing no regard for the people of Kerry.

“The council would want to get out of bed with big developers. We’re too affectionate with major developers,” he declared.

He claimed roads were being pulverised by developers and knew instances where roads were being taken over by developers who didn’t “give a damn” about the people who were paying taxes to use the roads.

Mr Riordan described the remarks as scandalous and requested Mr Cronin to withdraw them.

“I’m quite happy with the staff in this council, who are the most professional I’ve come across in any organisation. The staff work very hard trying to resolve very difficult problems,” he said.

Mr Riordan said he had instructed staff to be flexible and not autocratic and also encouraged them to take career breaks.

“It’s important to know how the private and public sectors work. If a staff member works in the private sector, they come back more professional and balanced,” he stated.

Asking Mr Cronin to withdraw the allegation, Mr Riordan suggested that if Mr Cronin knew individual cases of “anything untoward” involving staff he should put them in writing and he would deal with them himself.

But, Mr Cronin replied: “I withdraw nothing.”

However, he agreed to withdraw a reference he had made to a “kangaroo court” in regard to a previous matter regarding a code of ethics in the council.

Several councillors said they were not in cahoots with developers and Independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae defended the council’s engineers.

However, Mr Cronin said the council should reclaim the roads, which had been taken over by developers.

The row arose during a discussion on implementation of a regulation whereby building contractors must devote 20% of housing developments to social and affordable housing.

Director of services John Breen said 30 such units were under construction and the council was negotiating for a further 47 units.

But, he added, there were also delays and cases where developers had not engaged with the council in a meaningful way. The planning department was starting enforcement action under the Planning Act in these cases.