Galway City Council

On 28 February 2020, the then Housing Minister, Eoghan Murphy, emailed Mr Michael Walsh, in his capacity as Chairperson of the County & City Management Association (CCMA), concerning certain issues related to the alleged payment of ‘protection money’ at local authority construction sites. In his email, Mr Murphy requested that Mr Walsh: a. Could confirm that communications had been issued to all staff dealing with social housing and/or Others types of construction sites under each local authority's control, or in which they have a financial interest, requiring them to report immediately any forms of intimidation and/or anti-social behaviour, or any so-called "protection payments" made to any person. b. Once process (a) had been completed, if he could confirm that all local authorities, upon receipt of any such reports, have arrangements in place to immediately report them to An Garda Siochana. c. Could arrange for all local authorities to confirm that they have reviewed the processes, procedures and protocols in place to deal with such reported incidents, on an ongoing basis. In relation to this email, I am now seeking the following records: 1. Any correspondence sent by Mr Walsh (or by the CCMA) to your Council, in relation to the three requests referred to above, (a)- (c), as listed by Mr Murphy in his letter. The timeframe I am referring to is 28 February 2020 to the present. 2. Any replies sent by your Council, in response to any of Mr Walsh’s/the CCMA correspondence, concerning the three requests listed above. The timeframe I am referring to is 28 February 2020 to the present.