Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley has defended her role in a controversial zoning proposal at Fenit, Co Kerry which could have favoured a former business associate of her father.
Asked about the matter yesterday, Ms Foley, a Fianna Fáil councillor and daughter of the former TD Denis Foley, a one-time business associate of property developer John Byrne, said she had supported many of the submissions during the lengthy planning meeting.
She said her proposal for low-density housing for 34 acres of seafront property owned by Mr Byrne at the entrance to Fenit village was simply to allow the local public to decide on the matter.
Ms Foley's proposal as recorded in the minutes of the October special planning meeting adopted and distributed last week, asked Kerry County Council to resolve to vary the draft local area plan for Fenit by zoning the lands the subject of the numbered submission for low density housing.
The proposal was seconded by councillor Ned O'Sullivan (FF).
The October planning meeting dealt with a large number of matters in relation to the draft development plan for 20 towns and villages in the Killarney and Tralee area for the next six years.
Last August, during the period in which the draft plan was out for public consultation, Ciara and John Byrne of Fenit House, Fenit Without, made a submission objecting to the plan's proposal to zone their lands on the shoreline at Fenit Without and at the rear of the Paddock housing estate for amenity uses only.
The Byrnes said they intended to develop the lands to low density housing.
However the planners' view was that development there would have a negative impact on coastal views.
According to the minutes of the planning meeting, Cllr Foley said the lands in question served no purpose at present and she wanted it to be zoned residential.
Later in the meeting ms r Foley said she was requesting the amendment be put on public display.
County manager Martin Riordan said "the rationale for the proposal on proper planning and development grounds was not sufficient".
The proposal was blocked when councillors overwhelmingly voted against it.
Ms Foley's move in support of the submission was strenuously resisted by Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris and Fianna Fáil councillor John Brassil.
Ms Ferris said the land was in front of a local authority housing estate and it was necessary to preserve the views and prospects. The local community also objected.
Nineteen councillors voted against the proposal. Only three councillors voted in favour - Ms Foley, Mr O'Sullivan and Tom Fleming, also of Fianna Fáil.