The Complaint

Over a period of five years from August 2000 to November 2005, a married couple and their neighbours made a number of complaints to Meath County Council about unauthorised development beside their home, in particular a shed built in early 1998 which, they claimed, was used for commercial purposes.  They have alleged that during that time the Council failed to take appropriate enforcement action in relation to the shed.  Eventually, in December 2005, the Council claimed that it was precluded in law from taking enforcement action under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the 2000 Act) as it was over seven years since the shed was erected.

The complainants and their neighbours wrote numerous letters and had other contacts with the Council relating to the matter but no action seemed to have been taken against the developer. On 14 July 2006, the complainants complained to my Office about the failure of the Council to take enforcement action.