Bree told ‘third parties’ will have a say on info request
The County Council has told Independent councillor Declan Bree that information he has requested under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the creation of car parking spaces in Rosses Point may affect third parties.
“At present, we are considering whether these records may be required to be disclosed to you in the public interest,” Cllr Bree was told by the council.
He had asked for all written records it had dating back to January 2015 relating to the proposed provision of car parking spaces near the Little Cottage Cafe.
The council told Cllr Bree that it was required to advise third parties of his request and to provide them with an opportunity to make submissions about access to the material concerned.
Third parties then have three weeks to make submissions and the Council has a further two weeks in which to make a final decision as to whether the records will be released to Cllr Bree.
He was also told that all documentation relating to the planning application for the cafe was available for viewing on the council website and was therefore outside the remit of a Freedom of Information request. He made a submission to the County Council under the Freedom of Information Act on the 7 th of December last.
Cllr Bree said: “When I spoke at recent Council meetings and criticised the proposal to construct a car park on the village green the Council officials never mentioned that there were third parties involved.
“At this stage all the records, correspondence and documentation must be made available.
“It has also been revealed that while there was a statutory requirement on the Council Executive to impose a Development Contribution levy of €16,000 when planning permission was granted for the café development, the Council only imposed a levy of €6,000.
“Now the Council executive is proposing to spend in excess of €10,000 of public monies to construct a car park on the village green adjacent to the café. I am most unhappy with the proposal,” said Cllr Bree.