Wicklow County Council official resigned after an internal inquiry

A Wicklow County Council official resigned following an internal investigation into staff activity in relation to planning matters last year, The Irish Times has learned.

The investigation followed complaints made to the council by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI), and at least one elected member of the council.

The investigation resulted in the resignation of one official while issues in relation to a second official "were resolved", the council acknowledged yesterday.

Speaking as the new county manager, Mr Eddie Sheehy, presided over his first council meeting at Wicklow, the assistant Wicklow county manager, Mr Hubert Fitzpatrick, confirmed that the investigation into an official's conduct had taken place.

The issues raised according to Mr Fitzpatrick were in relation to "nixers" being carried out by council staff but he declined to state if the staff were qualified planners.

As acting county manager since February last Mr Fitzpatrick would have been ultimately in charge of the investigation. He has now returned to his former post as assistant county manager.

Yesterday he said that following discussions with staff, one official left council employment while "issues in relation to a second official were resolved last July".

Fianna Fail TD, Mr Dick Roche, said he was aware of "a situation with regard to nixers" while Green Party councillor, Ms Deirdre De Burca, said she was aware concern had been expressed by the RIAI.

It was not immediately clear last night what specific issues had been raised by the RIAI, although the Labour TD for Wicklow, Ms Liz McManus, herself an architect, confirmed that such a letter of concern about planning matters had been received by the council.

Ms McManus also revealed that she had made a formal complaint to the council about the prevalence of nixers.

She said one official appeared to be advising his private clients on planning matters and then telling them to lobby her to assist in obtaining planning permission for their schemes.

Meanwhile, in their speeches of welcome for the new county manager many members referred to recent controversy over planning matters in Wicklow.

Mr Sheehy, who announced last week that he had suspended officials of Roscommon County Council over planning irregularities, was told by the independent councillor, Mr Nicky Kelly, that it was to be hoped he "hadn't jumped from the frying pan into the fire".