Gormley must get to grips with local councils on planning scandals

The Prime Time programme showed that councillors who vote for reckless rezoning, and who complain about the lack of other powers for themselves, are, through their actions, ultimately offering the strongest argument yet for the abolition of local government structures in Ireland.

FUTURE Prime Time Investigates programmes on RTÉ should begin with a health warning to the effect that what is about to be screened will impact adversely on the blood pressure of those who care about this country and the mess it is in. The exploration of the local authority planning scandals aired on Monday night was frightening and infuriating in equal measure.

Some contributing councillors smirked, whinged and winked their way through the programme, unapologetic and unrepentant about the enormous damage that is caused to some areas by the links between developers and local politicians and by the failure to ensure local plans comply with spatial strategies and national guidelines.