Lenihan offered Healy-Rae €1m in return for support

THE LATE Brian Lenihan promised Jackie Healy-Rae €1 million towards projects in Co Kerry in return for his support for the last government’s €6 billion austerity budget, a RTÉ documentary has disclosed.

In a special edition of the Week in Politics broadcast last night, the former Independent TD for South Kerry confirmed that Mr Lenihan, then minister for finance, pledged the €1 million in a meeting between the two politicians.

Mr Healy-Rae’s support. as well as that of Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry, was essential to ensure the passage of the Finance Bill in January 2011, only weeks before the collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition. The Bill gave statutory effect to the previous month’s budget.

In an interview with the programme, Mr Healy-Rae recalled the meeting. “I looked at Brian Lenihan and said we need a million. Brian Lenihan said: ‘The million will not be a problem’.”

The secret deals brokered by the two independent TDs with two Fianna Fáil taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, were cumulatively worth €71 million, although not all the pledges were delivered on because of the economic downturn. Both deals were agreed with Mr Ahern after he was returned as taoiseach for a third term in 2007.

Mr Healy-Rae was given a written pledge that 26 roads in his constituency would be rebuilt. Mr Lowry secured 41 commitments for local projects, including the provision of improved surgical facilities at Nenagh Hospital.

The arrangement gave both TDs direct access to the taoiseach and to his ministers. They were also entitled to early information on every major funding or jobs announcement pertinent to their constituencies.

The former government chief whip Tom Kitt told the programme that Mr Ahern “skilfully cushioned the language” to suggest they were supporting the programme for government.

“But we all know there were these deals and that some of the stuff is unsavoury,” he said.

Mr Kitt also said that he interceded twice on behalf of junior minister Máire Hoctor, who represented the same constituency, who felt very aggrieved that Mr Lowry was announcing everything first.

Mr Healy-Rae praised Mr Ahern for being very fair and as good as his word but said Mr Cowen was not as committed.

While it is not disclosed whether the €1 million pledge came good after the fall of the government, much of the money was earmarked for a bridge at Barraduff outside Killarney. Some €4 million was committed to the bridge in 2007 but because of the downturn, the commitment was downgraded to a more modest widening project.

Mr Healy-Rae also claimed the Lissivigeen roundabout on the outskirts of Killarney should have been named after him, as it was built with money secured by him.

There were fewer details available about the costs associated with Mr Lowry’s deal. Dublin North Central TD Finian McGrath also had a deal with the coalition but he withdrew his support for the government during the term.