A GARDA INVESTIGATION has been launched into Wicklow County Council following allegations of serious planning irregularities.

Gardaí confirmed to TheJournal.ie that gardaí in Wicklow are ”making enquiries at Wicklow County Council on foot of documents received by them”.

“The County Council have confirmed that they will make all information relevant to the enquiries available to the gardaí,” added the statement.

A statement from a spokesperson on behalf of Wicklow County Council said: 

“As this matter is the subject of a Garda investigation the Council will not be making any comment. The Council will be cooperating fully with the Garda investigation.”

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has welcomed the investigation, stating that he handed over a number of sworn affidavits to Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy last Thursday. 

“Two years ago my party colleagues and I in Wicklow handed over documents to the gardaí relating to allegations of serious planning irregularities within Wicklow County Council,” he said.

He added that last week he also handed over more documents to the gardaí including sworn affidavits.

“These sworn affidavits make very serious allegations regarding planning irregularities in Wicklow,” he said. 

A spokesperson for the minister said: 

The Department has received correspondence in relation to a number of complaints regarding certain matters in County Wicklow which is being considered and the outcome of this process will be made known in due course.

It is also understood that a meeting was held in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government last week.

Brady said he welcomed news of the investigation, stating that “transparency at local and national political level is crucial”.