There has been "no transparency" from the Government about a report investigating Dublin City Council's alleged role in facilitating payments to criminals on building sites. 

A 2019 High Court case found that construction companies contracted by DCC paid hundreds of thousands of euros to criminals to prevent antisocial behaviour on social housing sites in Ballyfermot. 

While DCC had no direct involvement in these payments, two council employees are alleged to have been aware of – and facilitated – the deal. 

In 2019, then-Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy commissioned a report to establish the role of DCC in these payments, which was completed in February 2022. 

Independent Councillor Damian O'Farrell said in November 2023, it was confirmed there were no criminal investigations ongoing concerning the payments. 

Despite that, councillors such as Cllr O’Farrell demand to see the report. 

“Last Friday, an official in the Department of Housing wrote to the Lord Mayor giving us some information,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“But we’ve never seen the report... there’s no transparency. 

“We represent the public – we are the directors of Dublin City Council, there’s reputational damage done to Dublin City Council and we need accountability and transparency.” 

A statement from the Department of Housing to Newstalk said the report and recommendations based on it “remain under the deliberative process”. 

Dublin City Council involvement unlikely

Cllr O’Farrell said there are some questions that councillors have had answered. 

“The report concluded that there was no evidence DCC reimbursed contractors for these payments,” he said. 

“That's fair enough, but what councillors want to know [is] were the protection payments built into the original costs of the development? 

“In that case, the taxpayer would end up paying that.” 

While it is unlikely the protection payments were part of the contractors’ budgets, Cllr O’Farrell said councillors need full transparency. 

“We’ve seen a third-hand synopsis of the report,” he said. 

“If the odd Dublin City Council official name was redacted, that’s fair enough, but the report should come out.” 

According to the High Court case, one contractor paid €1,500 a week, plus VAT, to the criminals in exchange for protection on the building sites. 

Dublin City Council declined to comment.

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