Niall Collins not expected to make Dáil statement on planning application until next week

Minister of State Niall Collins is not expected to make a Dáil statement on his 2001 planning application for a house in Co Limerick until next week.

There had been suggestions that Mr Collins would make a personal statement addressing “all the circumstances” of the planning application in the Dáil on Wednesday or Thursday.

However, a Fianna Fáil spokeswoman said this will now happen next week.

Mr Collins is said to be taking the time to review documents related to the planning application which were published by Limerick City and County Council.

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The Fianna Fáil TD for Co Limerick has insisted he acted correctly when he made the application in 2001 seeking permission to build a home on lands owned by his father in Cloughkeating, Patrickswell, Co Limerick.

He has disputed assertions made by the news website The Ditch surrounding the application for the site, which was located in a so-called “pressure area” that had restrictions on over-development.

According to The Ditch, applicants at the time were required to demonstrate their need for their proposed dwellings and those who already owned a property would be unsuccessful in their application.

The website outlined how Mr Collins owned another property with his wife, Eimear O’Connor, in Dooradoyle, Limerick.

Mr Collins confirmed on Monday night that he and his wife owned a property on Fr Russell Road in Dooradoyle but he said it “was not in the pressure area”.

He said he acted correctly at all times, and met all the conditions for planning permission in respect of the Patrickswell site.

Amid Opposition calls for a Dáil statement on the issue, the Government has backed Mr Collins with spokesmen from all three Coalition parties expressing full confidence in him.

Will survive

Within Fianna Fáil there is a belief among some that he will survive the issue while others are withholding judgment until Mr Collins makes his Dáil statement.

One source said will “be okay” saying the issue was different to the controversy that saw Fine Gael junior minister Damien English resign from that role in January.

They suggested the rules in place in Limerick at the time “seemingly only relates to another house in the same planning zone”.

Another TD said it is “impossible” to tell if Mr Collins is in trouble as yet and they are “awaiting his statement”.

A different person said people are withholding judgment until Mr Collins makes his statement but they suggested Mr Collins will fight to defend himself and is “not the type of person to go lightly”.

Another Fianna Fáiler said the situation “Looks messy but he’s entitled to give his account to the Dáil.”