A major investigation is to be launched into Carlow County Council after alleged planning irregularities were uncovered during an official audit.

According to reports yesterday morning, complaints have been made to Environment Minister John Gormley about the Council, which will be subjected to an official investigation in the coming weeks.

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It is the first named council to be investigated under a fresh clampdown into planning issues.

The move follows an audit carried out last year, which identified "corporate governance issues" in the planning department, including the use of "special development contributions" and planning permissions being granted by default because they were not processed within the statutory eight weeks.

It also raised concerns about the use of planning enforcement powers and the disposal of council-owned land without a valuation being carried out.

(BMcC)