A state-wide investigation into planning irregularities was called for yesterday by a Waterford county councillor following the revelation that at least four council staff members have carried out private work.
Mr John Deasy of Fine Gael said concerns raised with him by members of the public had been vindicated by an admission by the county manager that four draughtsmen, and other staff, had carried out work for private clients. There was a need for a "national input" into the inquiries being carried out by local authorities, he claimed.
The manager, Mr Donal Connolly, who revealed last month that two draughtsmen had been warned for carrying out such work, told the council's February meeting that he had since found out that two more staff members had completed plans submitted with planning applications in the past 12 months.
"I also acknowledge that in the past years some members of staff other than draughtsmen/technicians did on an occasional basis prepare plans and drawings for planning permission," he said. None of the council's six planners, however, was engaged in preparing plans or drawings.
The council secretary, Mr Peter Carey, said yesterday it was not possible to say how many others had been engaged in private work, but the practice was not widespread.
He said the council was continuing the inquiries requested of all local authorities by the Department of the Environment and Local Government last month, and would be reporting at the end of March.
He did not expect, however, that any further staff members would be found to have engaged in private work.
"As far as we're concerned that's the end of it. The matter is now closed. We have dealt with the staff concerned and want to move on."
Mr Connolly, in his statement to the council, said the first two draughtsmen were interviewed following an investigation of planning files following a complaint by a member of the public.
There had been a view among draughtsmen, he said, that the Local Government (Officers) Regulations of 1984 did not apply to them. The regulations prohibit officers from engaging in private activities which are incompatible with their official roles.
"As a result of my findings I had a meeting with all draughtsmen on November 9th, 2000, and informed them that I was satisfied that the 1984 regulations did apply to draughtsmen and I directed them not to carry out any such work in future."
Mr Deasy, who has been strongly criticised by fellow councillors for his comments on the issue, claimed that Mr Connolly's statement to the council was the third version of events presented. Having initially suggested there was no problem, the manager had revealed that two staff members had been warned, and the figure was now four.
