The son of Independent Kerry South TD, Mr Jackie-Healy Rae, was the highest earner among private plant-hire contractors employed by Kerry County Council in 2001, according to figures released by the council yesterday.
The figures were released on foot of a council motion by Independent councillor Mr Brendan Cronin. The council's head of finance, Mr John O'Connor, stressed "it is and always has been the policy of Kerry County Council to ensure value for money in the hireage of plant and equipment." All contracts were publicly advertised.
Mr Daniel Healy-Rae, Main Street, Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, was paid €474,556 (£373,743) by the council last year. He was one of more than 100 private plant-hire contractors employed by the county council.
The hired plant and equipment are mainly to do with roads works, although a small number of the payments may relate to items such as sewerage schemes, a council spokeswoman explained.
Other high earners in the schedule published by the council for 2001 include Clancy Plant of Knockanure, Listowel, which was paid almost €400,000. A small number of contractors were paid in the region of €200,000 and €300,000.
In total, Kerry County council paid more than €7 million to private plant hire contractors last year. Plant operator skill, suitability of plant item for the job, available back-up service, reliability of plant item and hireage rate are all taken into account.
The council advertises publicly and plant-hire contractors must satisfy the council on insurances and must produce a G2 tax clearance certificate or other relevant tax clearance certification, Mr O'Connor said.