NI agricultural planning fraud ‘not properly investigated’

The NI Audit Office began investigating the official response in March 2023, after a member of the public raised concerns about the handling of the case.

Auditor General Dorinnia Carville said it was “very disappointing” that the Department for Infrastructure, which has responsibility for oversight of the NI planning system, considered it inappropriate to get more directly involved in the issue.

“As a result, an opportunity to ensure that all affected councils had initiated an investigation into potential fraud was missed,” she added.

“This report recommends that the department takes a more active role should such sector-wide issues arise in future.”

The Local Government Auditor, Colette Kane, said it was “alarming and a matter of great concern” that any council could consider the submission of falsified information in a planning application to be anything other than potential fraud.

She said there had been a lack of action by some affected councils, even after they were prompted by the Audit Office.