Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Comhairle Contae Dhún Laoghaire-Ráth an Dúin
Type
Type	County council
Leadership
Cathaoirleach	Barry Saul, FG
Structure
Seats	40
Political groups	Fine Gael (11)      Fianna Fáil (8)      Labour Party (7)      PBPA (3)      Sinn Féin (3)      Green Party (2)      Independent (6)
Elections
Last election	23 May 2014
Meeting place
County Hall, Dún Laoghaire
Website
www.dlrcoco.ie

The area governed by the council

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Dhún Laoghaire-Ráth an Dúin) is the authority responsible for local government in the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 40 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (Chairperson). The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Philomena Poole. The county town is Dún Laoghaire. It serves a population of approximately 206,260.

History

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council traces its history back to local government structures that have existed in the area since 1834. The Council was established under the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 by the merger of the Corporation of Dún Laoghaire and that part of Dublin County Council that corresponded to the former Rathdown No 1 Rural District. The two sides of the County have distinct histories in terms of local government structures.

On the Dún Laoghaire side of the County, the Corporation of Dún Laoghaire had been established by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930 as a successor body to Kingstown Town commissioners. Those Commissioners were established in 1834 and were subsequently renamed Kingstown Urban District Council and then Dún Laoghaire Urban District Council.

On the Rathdown side of the County, Dublin County Council and Rathdown No. 1 Rural District Council were established under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. Rathdown No. 1 Rural District Council was abolished by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930.

Councillors

For the purpose of elections the county is divided into 6 local electoral areas (LEA).

2014 seats summary

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 23 May 2014.^[1]

Controversies

M50 and compensation to Jackson Way Properties

An agreement was reached for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to compensate Jackson Way Properties by €12,860,700 for the compulsory purchase in October 1998 of its freehold interest in the lands, adjoining the M50 motorway.^[2] The Council agreed to pay costs and expenses properly incurred by Jackson Way Properties in relation to preparation and submission of its claim although to date nothing has been paid.

The award total is broken down as follows:

• Land taken – €9,691,000
• Injurious affection – €2,296,700 and
• Disturbance – €873,000.

It is now the view of the Criminal Assets Bureau that €4.2 million of this award represents the present value of corrupt enrichment by the property owners although this view is based on hearsay evidence given by Mr Frank Dunlop.

A company called Paisley Park Investments Ltd were registered as full owners in 1992 and the land was transferred to Jackson Way Properties in 1993, the beneficial owners of which are believed by the CAB to be arcade owner James Kennedy and solicitor John Coldwell.

Criminal Assets Bureau investigation

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) successfully obtained a High Court order on 26 July 2006 freezing land assets of 107 acres (0.43 km²) at Carrickmines, County Dublin, owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd and preventing their sale.^[3] CAB contended that these lands had been rezoned on 16 December 1997 by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from agricultural to industrial use after Frank Dunlop bribed and made corrupt payments to councillors to secure their support in the rezoning vote. That vote increased the value of just 17 acres (69,000 m²) of the property from €8 million to €61 million. CAB has interviewed and taken statements from Frank Dunlop and will use him as a witness against a number of property developers although Dunlop is currently in prison serving a jail sentence for corruption.

The lands in question have been the subject of investigation by The Mahon Tribunal in 2003 and 2004.

The case CAB -v- Jacksonway properties was due for hearing in the High Court Dublin in October 2010 and given the number of affidavits that have been filed in the case it appears it will be vigorously defended with Jackson Way denying any wrongdoing and Mr Kennedy a tax exile currently living in Gibraltar returning to give evidence in the case. Jackson Way have given the court notice that they intend to subpoena councillors to give evidence. No councillor to date has been charged with any form of wrongdoing in relation to rezoning.

References

External links

• Official website