Roscommon County Council has refused to extend the duration of planning permission for a holiday home being built at Lavagh Townland, near Rooskey, for the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
Mr McDowell's holiday home at Lavagh townland in Roscommon. Photograph: Sky News
When it emerged that the house under construction is different from that covered by planning permission granted in 1999, the council contacted the Co Sligo-based engineers engaged in the building and refused to extend the duration of planning permission for the property.
Mr McDowell said last night that he had no knowledge of correspondence from the council, but Fine Gael claimed the affair was a "major embarrassment" for the Minister.
Documents published by Sky News Ireland show that the council found that the house being built at Lavagh townland near Rooskey was "significantly different" from that for which planning permission was granted in 1999. The planning permission had lapsed.
Speaking on RTÉ's Questions & Answersprogramme, the Minister said he had been assured by Griffner-Coillte that they did not believe the construction was out of line with the planning permission. Any problems would be remedied, he added.
The council said the developers were "by their own admission" building a dwelling that was 2.2 metres lower than that for which permission was granted.