The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Healy-Rae says county roads will be his top priority
July 1995
GETTING cash to upgrade Kerry’s county roads is the number one priority of Kerry’s newly-elected Chairman of Kerry County Council Jackie Healy-Rae.
The Kilgarvan Fianna Fail councillor defeated Fine Gael’s Cllr Dan Barry from Cahersiveen by 14 votes to 12 in the crucial vote for the chairmanship. Outgoing Chairman, Independent Tommy Foley, was elected to replace Cllr Michael Cahill, FF, as vice-chairman. He defeated Labour’s Cllr Maeve Spring by 14 votes to 12.
Fianna Fail who are one vote short of a majority on the council have a voting pact with Cllr Tommy Foley which saw him elected to the chairmanship last year and Cllr Healy-Rae take over the position this year. Cllr healy-Rae will be paid £10,500 in expenses during his year in office.
After his election Chairman Healy-Rae, who was last chairman of Kerry County Council in 1980/81, said that the poor state of Kerry roads is the single issue he will concentrate most on.
“County roads are in a dangerously bad condition. I will certainly do anything I can to do about the desperate condition of those roads,” he said.
Cllr Dan Barry paid special tribute to Independent Cllr James Courtney who came from hospital to vote in the contest for the chairmanship. He voted for Cllr Barry.
Outgoing Chairman Cllr Tommy Foley received warm praise from all sides of the house for his handling of council meetings during his year as chairman.
Cllr Foley said that the highlight of his year of office was the coming of peace to his country. He said that a very sad note for him during the year was the passing of his great friend Cllr Pat Finnegan from Killorglin.
He related that he attended over 200 functions on behalf of the council while chairman and said he wanted to thank council staff for their unfailing courtesy towards him.
Cllr Foley said that he was delighted to see that the Irish tri-colour is now in the chamber along with the 1916 Proclamation.
Cllr Dan Barry said he had to compliment him:
“You were in no way parochial. You are a Tralee man but you looked after the entire county,” he said. Independent PJ Cronin said that he was always fair. “That was what we expected and that was what we got” he said.
County Manager Paddy d’Arcy said that Cllr Foley was a pleasure to work with. The incoming Chairman said his predecessor had no favourites and gave everyone a fair crack of the whip.