Minister of State for Employment Affairs, Business and Retail Damien English has resigned after discrepancies in a planning application he submitted in 2008 were made public.

The Ditch website reported on Wednesday that the Fine Gael TD failed to disclose that he owned a bungalow in Castlemartin, Co Meath that he had inherited from his father when applying to Meath County Council for permission to build a new home.

Under its rural housing policy, the council only granted permission for one-off dwellings to local residents who didn't already own a house, and who can prove they have a housing need.

English and his wife, Laura Kenny, successfully applied for permission to build a 2,800 sq ft bungalow at a 2.5-acre site in Cookstown, 6km from the Castlemartin house.

"I have informed the Taoiseach last night of my decision to resign as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment," the former Junior Minister wrote in a tweet on Thursday morning.

In Association with

"Yesterday in an online article, questions were raised about my planning application from 14 years ago. I reviewed this application, made in 2008, and it is clear to me that I failed to inform Meath County Council about ownership of my house in Castlemartin.

"This was wrong, not up to the standard required and I apologise for doing so. I would like to thank the people of Meath West for their ongoing support as their TD. I will continue to serve them and work hard on their behalf in the constituency."

In a statement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “Last night, Damien English TD offered me his resignation as Minister of State for Employment Affairs, Business and Retail. 

"He informed me that 14 years ago, when applying for planning permission, he made a declaration to Meath County Council that was not correct. 

"It was his view given the circumstances that his position was not tenable. I agreed and accepted his resignation.”

Photo: Damien English. (Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)