Fine Gael election candidate for Louth leaves race after receiving money for withdrawing objection to housing development

A Fine Gael local election candidate has pulled out of the race for Louth County Council and apologised after a report that she received money for withdrawing an objection to a housing development near where she lives.

Maria Dwyer-Agrios posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning asking voters not to consider her for election after The Ditch website reported on Monday that she had received cash and work valued at a combined €30,000 from a housing developer, following a planning observation she made in 2019.

In her post, Ms Dwyer-Agrios said: “Following a report published online yesterday, I wish to announce I will not be contesting the 2024 Local Elections.

“What occurred was wrong and I am extremely sorry for it. It should not have happened. While my name remains on the ballot paper, I now ask that voters do not consider me for election.

“Once again, I apologise for what happened. It should not have occurred. I will not be making further comment on this issue.”

According to a report on The Ditch, she received €15,000 and €15,000 worth of work on her house from the developer of a housing project for withdrawing her observation.

It comes as the Coalition moves forward with plans to make it a crime to demand “go away” money for not lodging appeals against property developments, amid concern about objectors exploiting legal loopholes by seeking payments from developers to withdraw actual or threatened appeals against housing and other building schemes.

On Tuesday, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien briefed Cabinet on a plan for a new ban on “spurious planning submissions and appeals” which will make it an offence to demand money or any other form of consideration in return for not taking a local authority planning appeal.

Draft planning legislation working its way through the Oireachtas will be changed to empower any developers who are asked for money to seek a High Court direction requiring the dismissal of an appeal to a local authority or An Bord Pleanála. A similar direction can be sought for the dismissal of judicial review proceedings before the court.