Monaghan County Council is to seek an urgent meeting with Minister for the Environment John Gormley in relation to his recent decision to reject rezoning proposals contained in the council's new county development plan for 2007 to 2013.
During a seven-hour meeting yesterday, several councillors strongly criticised the fact that the Minister's decision was not made known to the local authority until it was broadcast on RTÉ last Sunday evening.
In a communication to the Monaghan county manager, Declan Nelson, the Minister said his reasons for the rejection included the fact that the total amount of land being rezoned was unwarranted in Co Monaghan, and he suggested there would be scattered spatial distribution of future population growth within the county.
On the proposition of Fine Gael councillor Owen Bannigan, it was decided to invite the Minister to a meeting of the council or, if he was not willing to attend, to ask him to receive a delegation from the council to discuss the issue.
Cllr Bannigan said "the manner in which this decision was issued by the Minister was a downright disgrace, and the Minister has treated local authority members with contempt".
The mayor of Co Monaghan, Cllr Gary Carville, who chaired the meeting, said, "What Minister Gormley has done in the case of Co Monaghan has made the issue of 'better local government' a joke."
Mr Nelson told the council that in accordance with the Minister's directive, he is now being compelled to sign a new order next week in compliance with a variation on the plan.