Gardai in Dungarvan have confirmed that a man was arrested in Waterford city on Friday night in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged planning irregularities within Waterford County Council
The man was brought to Tramore Garda Station for questioning and was later released without charge.
Several members of the County Council and Dungarvan Town Council, as well as numerous officials, have been questioned during the garda investigation, which has focussed on the rezoning of up to 300 acres of land at Ballygeoghean, about two kilometres west of Dungarvan.
Last year, a proposed amendment to the County Development Plan to rezone the land from agricultural to economic use as a way to help develop industry was passed by the County Council. This decision was later overturned by Environment Minister John Gormley.
The controversy was first raised by Dungarvan-based Fine Gael TD John Deasy, after a constituent spoke to him about reported allegations surrounding the future development of the land. Deputy Deasy reported the matter to gardai and the ensuing investigation resulted in the interviewing of members of the councils and numerous council officials last year.
Nobody was arrested at the time and there were no allegations against any of the officials or sitting councillors.
These current Garda inquiries do not relate to other previous investigations into planning matters in Co Waterford.
