Healy-rae guesthouse paid €628k for taking in Ukrainian refugees
»»Payment figures revealed »»€1.33bn paid out by State
A GUESTHOUSE operated by a firm owned by Independent TD, Michael Healy-rae has received €658,770 for accommodating Ukrainians to date, figures revealed yesterday.
Quarterly figures published by the Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth show his Rosemount Guest House in Co Kerry received €114,680 between July 1 and the end of September.
This is in addition to the €544,090 the outspoken Kerry TD’S property in Tralee has received in the prior three quarters from the department for accommodating Ukrainians.
All figures are inclusive of VAT.
Last year, Kerry County Council refused planning permission to Mr Healy Rae’s Roughty Properties Ltd’s application for a three-storey extension to expand guest capacity at Rosemount Guest House.
The €114,680 paid out was part of a €320million provided by the State to accommodation providers.
In addition, the State paid €168million to firms accommodating International Protection applicants during the same three-month period. The €320million to accommodate Ukrainians brings to a total of €868.97million in housing Ukrainians for the first nine months of last year.
The total bill for providing for IP applicants for the first nine months is €469million after taking into account the €168mmillion spent between July 1 and the end of September.
The combined bill for accommodating Ukrainians and IP applicants is €1.33billion for the January 1 to September 30 period.
The detailed figures show the owner of the country’s largest hotel, Citywest, Cape Wrath Hotel UC in west Dublin received €24million for the third quarter in accommodating Ukrainians and IP applicants and brings to €53.7million it has received for the first nine months of last year.
Cape Wrath Hotel UC is part of the Tetrarch Capital group and the €24million is made up of €22.8million for providing accommodation to Ukrainians while it received an additional €1.2million for housing IP applicants for the third quarter.
The figures show Tirawley Ltd trading at Breaffy House Resort in Co Mayo received €6million in the third quarter for accommodating Ukrainians and IP applicants.
The figures also show a company controlled by former Monaghan GAA football manager, Seamus “Banty” Mcenaney, Brimwood UC received €5.68million for the third quarter which brings total payments for the first nine months to €28.78million for housing Ukrainians and IP applicants.
Brimwood UC has unlimited company status and is not required to file annual accounts with the Companies Office showing the level of profit it enjoys.
The figures show Travelodge Hotels received €5.5million for housing IP applicants for the third quarter and this brings to €21.65million the business received in the first nine months of 2023.
The housing of IP applicants at Magowna House at Inch in Co Clare was a flashpoint last year when locals erected blockades on local roads.
Figures show the operator of the centre, Cork firm CRM Properties Ltd, received €5.9million for housing Ukrainians and IP applicants in the third quarter made up of €5.4million for accommodating Ukrainians and €427,800 for accommodating IP applicants.
Heronwell Ltd, established by Lucan businessman, Derek Scully, was incorporated on January 25 2022 and in 2022 received €9million from the State for accommodating Ukrainian refugees.