The Competition Authority is investigating allegations that an illegal cartel in the west is driving up the price of concrete.
The senior executive of a company now in receivership has alleged that the operation of the cartel is ongoing.
Last July, the senior executive in a concrete company gave a sworn statement to the Competition Authority about his company's involvement in an illegal price fixing cartel in the concrete industry in the west of Ireland.
He alleged that members of the cartel, who he has named, colluded to restrict competition, and increased the price of concrete in the region during the building boom.
He outlined how members of the cartel would meet informally on an almost daily basis, and then formally on a monthly basis to arrange price fixing and to divide market share.
The Competition Authority, which operates a cartel immunity programme for whistle blowers, said it does not comment on ongoing investigations that could result in criminal prosecutions.
However, if the operation of an illegal cartel were proven it could open the way for follow-on claims by local authorities and others who could claim to have been overcharged for road building and infrastructure improvements in recent years.
