Council official fired after inquiry
The senior official with Waterford County Council had his employment terminated after a local government auditor discovered the local authority was missing €53,000 in development contributions.
In September 2004, local government auditor Patrick J Healy discovered “two significant errors amounting to €53,000 in the calculation of Part V planning contributions” in the council’s accounts for the previous year. The money related to two projects.
These planning contributions are payments made by developers to local authorities in lieu of providing a portion of a development for social and affordable housing, as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000.
All 23 Waterford county councillors were informed of the sacking by text and email on Wednesday night.
The council issued a statement yesterday: “Following an internal investigation by Waterford County Council, the employment of a member of staff has been terminated, as a result of breaches of the code of conduct for employees.”
The council said it wouldn’t be commenting any further on the matter.
It is understood the official had been suspended on full pay while the council carried out its own internal inquiry. Officials informed the Department of the Environment about the planning irregularities.
Gardaí are continuing their own inquiry. They arrested the official in November 2005. He was taken to Dungarvan garda station and questioned in relation to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
As part of a their investigation, computers and files were removed from the council’s office and gardaí interviewed a number of officials.
Allegations about this council were first made by John Deasy, before he was elected to the Dáil.
It is the first time in living memory that a senior official in the council has been sacked due to alleged financial irregularities.
