Standards body to investigate Dempsey election dossier

The Standards in Public Office Commission is reportedly planning an investigation into the use of public resources by Education Minister Noel Dempsey to compile briefing documents for Fianna Fáil election candidates.

The investigation follows yesterday’s disclosure that Mr Dempsey had ordered officials from his department to compile an information pack for Fianna Fáil local election candidates in the north Leinster area.

Mr Dempsey is Fianna Fáil’s director of elections for the area.

The dossier he had compiled is believed to have included detailed information on money spent on schools in the region, which could be used by the candidates to boost their campaigns.