The Ditch editors

Robert Troy’s annual asset declarations among those lost by Westmeath County Council

Ex-junior minister Robert Troy’s annual asset declarations are among those Westmeath County Council (WCC) says it has lost. The local authority also refused to say if it purchased any other properties from the Longford-Westmeath TD.

Ervia chief legal officer appointed herself to investigate energy whistleblower allegations

The chief legal officer at Ervia appointed herself to investigate an internal allegation of significant wrongdoing at one of the state utility company’s subsidiaries.

Green Party minister Roderic O’Gorman failed to act on report of dire conditions in refugee accommodation

Minister for equality Roderic O’Gorman ignored a report of dire conditions in refugee accommodation in Letterkenny, county Donegal.

Rainwater flows on sockets in makeshift kitchen at refugee accommodation in Donegal

Up to 40 refugees are being forced to share what is effectively an outdoor, makeshift kitchen almost completely exposed to the elements in Letterkenny, county Donegal.

State film agency gave board member’s company €75,000 in Covid-19 support funding

A Screen Ireland board member’s company received a €75,000 film production grant from the state body.

An Bord Pleanála chairperson declared he shouldn’t vote on certain organisation’s applications. He did it anyway

Despite voluntarily restricting himself from voting on Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) planning applications, the Bord Pleanála (ABP) chairperson ruled on several of the organisation's cases.

Ukrainian refugees housed in illegally converted Donegal basement office, given weekly €30 Lidl vouchers for food

Up to 24 Ukrainian refugees are being housed in an illegally converted construction company office in a basement in Donegal. They’re given €30 Lidl vouchers each for their weeks’ food.

Irish fund in three years buys more than 850 second-hand homes for rental market, claims €20 million+ profit

A single Irish fund has in the last three years bought more than 850 second-hand homes and is now among the biggest landlords in the state.

An Bord Pleanála allowed developer triple site’s declared value – resulting in extra €1m+ for social housing units

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) allowed a developer to value the site for a major housing development at three times the price paid for it just three years previous.

After allegations of ABP board members voting in own neighbourhoods, two change their declarations

After allegations of An Bord Pleanála (ABP) board members voting on applications concerning their home neighbourhoods, two board members have changed their declarations on what they consider their immediate neighbourhoods.

An Bord Pleanála failed to charge developer more than €750,000 in public works fees

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) didn’t charge a developer more than €750,000 in statutory fees the planning authority should’ve collected. The fees would’ve been used for infrastructure projects and other community services local to the development.

Bord Pleanála board member overruled inspector to block 47 apartments in own neighbourhood

A Board Pleanála (ABP) board member twice overruled a planning inspector to block the construction of 47 apartments less than half a kilometre from her Dublin 8 home.