A local contractor should have been appointed to carry out works in Miltown Malbay as opposed to the Healy-Raes, a county councillor has claimed.
Healy-Rae Plant Hire which is owned by outspoken Kerry TD, Danny Healy-Rae (IND) has been appointed as the contractor for the replacement of the old watermain from Miltown Malbay to Mullagh which is due to commence in early 2021.
Accounts lodged by Healy-Rae Plant Hire in December show that they recorded an 85% increase in post-tax profits for 2018, that year the company also had accumulated profits of €1.39m. The value of the Kilgarvan based company’s tangible assets rose from from €493,766 to €803,807 in 2018. Up to €196,514 came from contracts awarded by Kerry County Council.
Criticism of the decision not to opt for local contractors to replace the Miltown Malbay mains was voiced by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) at a special meeting of the West Clare Municipal District on Thursday.
“We have to look at how we procure local contracts to make sure money stays locally, there are people here to provide these systems here”. The 2016 General Election candidate criticised the “limbo” that exists from layers of Irish Water, “it is not just the Miltown Malbay scheme but it is across the board,” Lynch stated.
