Fifty-one local authority officials have been cautioned for malpractice following an investigation into double-jobbing at local government level.
A report from the Department of Environment ordered in January and released today showed that 43 officials were cautioned country-wide for engaging in private practice, five were suspended for one week, two officers resigned and one took a career break.
Kerry County Council was highlighted in the report as the worst offender where 24 staff were issued with cautions regarding their future conduct.
Mr Ronnie Devlin, spokesperson for the Department told ireland.comtoday "generally the cautions were given to people drawing up plans for other people - neighbours or friends".
Mr Devlin insisted those cautioned were "not necessarily in the planning Department" there was "no suggestion they were trying to influence the planning system, but were just using their technical skills".
But he admitted one of two people suspended from Kerry County Council had conducted development work on privately-owned land without planing permission.
Investigations into malpractice are continuing in Leitrim and Cork County Councils and in Galway Corporation.
Announcing the results of the report today Minister for the Environment Mr Noel Dempsey said he was "very concerned with any activities that undermine public confidence in local authorities in general and the planning system in particular".
He said the current range of disciplinary measures available to county and city managers was insufficient. Currently managers can penalise offenders with a week's suspension or termination of employment.
Mr Devlin said the Minister may look at more lengthy suspensions as a means to broaden managers' options and the Minister is set to release new guidelines to assist with the implementation of the Codes of Practice outlined in the Planning and development Act 2000.
Today the Minister has flown to New York for a UN conference on sustainable development.