Gardaí in Waterford are investigating new allegations into planning matters which has led them to interview county councillors and senior officials with Waterford County Council.
Gardaí say the matters relate to the potential rezoning of up to 300 acres of land in the Dungarvan area.
Last month, Waterford County Council proposed to amend its County Development Plan and rezone up to 300 acres of land near Dungarvan from agricultural to economic use as a way to help develop industry.
Submissions on the proposal can be made up to next Thursday. It will probably be another few months before a decision is made on whether the land will be rezoned.
These current Garda inquiries do not relate to other previous investigations into planning matters in Co Waterford.
Local Fine Gael TD John Deasy said that last summer a man contacted him about planning allegations.
Mr Deasy then contacted the gardaí, who started looking into the matter. The investigation has led to gardaí interviewing most of the two dozen county councillors, and up to six council officials, in their homes in the past few days. The remaining interviews are expected to take place today.
Nobody has been arrested and there are no allegations against any of the officials or sitting councillors.
A number of county councillors have told RTÉ News they are gobsmacked at this turn of events.
It is not known if something like this has happened anywhere else in the country before now.
