Gardaí yesterday confirmed they have launched an investigation into alleged planning irregularities at Waterford County Council.
The investigation follows the suspension of an official with the council.
It is understood that the suspension follows a preliminary internal inquiry initiated by the council.
On Tuesday night, all 23 councillors on Waterford County Council received text messages on their mobile phones asking them to check an important e-mail from the council's acting director of services, Martin Walsh.
The e-mail message advised councillors that if contacted by the media regarding the allegations of misconduct, the council had approved a statement for issue which they could use.
It further advised against making any further comment beyond the statement. "An allegation of staff misconduct has been received by Waterford County Council. An internal investigation has been initiated.
"The matter has been referred to An Garda Síochána. No further comment is appropriate pending the outcome of the investigation," said the statement.
The Irish Times understands that the internal investigation follows a series of complaints by a member of the public earlier this year regarding the activities of a council staff member involved in the general planning area.
Yesterday Fine Gael councillor Damian Geoghegan said he had contacted the Waterford county Mayor, John Carey, with a view to calling an extraordinary general meeting of the council to discuss the alleged planning irregularities.
He said the statement from the council does not say if the individual complained of was involved in the drawing up of the county development plan.
Cllr Geoghegan said he believed it was important that councillors were properly briefed by the county manager, Ray O'Dwyer, before moving to adopt the county development plan due shortly.
Mr O'Dwyer was not available for comment yesterday but a spokesperson said the council would not be commenting on the matter.
Meanwhile, a Department of Environment spokesperson confirmed that it had been notified "very recently" by Waterford County Council that it was carrying out an internal investigation into allegations of planning irregularities.
