Healy-Rae Plant Hire, a business owned by TD Danny Healy-Rae and operated by his sons, county councillor Johnny and Dan, received over £250,000 from Kerry County Council in 2023. The disclosure of this data was prompted by an enquiry by Brendan Cronin, an independent councillor from Killarney.
Throughout 2023, the council distributed nearly £6.5 million among 52 contractors and companies in car hire and haulage, including plant hires. Several other companies were also beneficiaries of substantial payments, including Moyvane’s Clancy Plant Hire (£668,114), Camp Cross’s Sandmore Ltd (£675,739), Currow’s Mike Cronin and Sons (£588,301), and Ballinskelligs’s Nicholas Browne and Son (£471,201). Eamon and Seamus Hobbins Ltd was also remunerated with £430,718.
Other significant payments included close to £392,000 to Newbridge Car & Van Rental Ltd, trading as Rentals, from Newhall, Co Kildare, and £250,813 to Healy-Rae Plant Hire Ltd, located in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry. Additionally, Dillons Waste Disposal in Tralee received £203,121, while Crean & McHugh, trading as CMP from Glanmire, Co Cork, received £217,249. Gortale, Tralee-based company, C Wharton Tool Hire Limited was also paid £195,763.
The council stated that these contracts for equipment hire and transportation services were acquired through the Dynamic Purchasing System for local authorities, a system favouring small businesses and based in Killarney.
Although Councillor Cronin sees no issues with the disbursements, he emphasised that transparency about these figures is crucial.
The late Jackie Healy-Rae, together with his brother Dan, established the Healy-Rae Plant Hire company, now in its third generation, in 1956. The company, with a workforce exceeding 70 individuals, takes part in various projects including civil engineering, haulage, site clearance, road construction and pipe installation. It was mentioned by Kenmare councillor Johnny Healy-Rae to Building Ireland magazine that several staff members have dedicated over 30 years of service to the company.
Mr Healy-Rae highlighted that the firm specialises in dealing with wastewater and sewage. Its primary customer is Uisce Éireann. The company got involved in building a 10-acre wetland pilot scheme in Lixnaw, located in Co Kerry. Some of their other clientele comprises county councils from Cork, Limerick, and Clare, in addition to Coillte and BAM Ireland.