Latest news with #MauraHealy-Rae
Irish Independent
06-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry area is home to more than ten vacant properties owned by the council
Kerry County Council data indicates that six of these properties are 'Void', meaning they are not occupied. Refurbishment works are complete at three of these properties while renovations are ongoing at two. Works are awaited at one other. Works are ongoing at one fire damaged property while an insurance engagement is ongoing in relation to another fire damaged property. Three council homes in the area have been vacant for more than a year. The council said refurbishment works are not feasible at these properties so they have been earmarked for sale under the Section 183 process, relating to proposed disposal of land held by a local authority. The council data was published in response to motions tabled by Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae and Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O'Donoghue at the June meeting of Killarney Municipal District. Cllr Healy-Rae asked the council to provide details on the vacant and void properties within the Municipal District and what is required to bring these properties back into use. Cllr O'Donoghue asked how many of the council's houses in Killarney have been vacant for more than 12 months.
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Kerry town's jaunting car drivers should be able to give family members ‘a crack of the whip'
Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae called for local jarveys to have the right to pass on their licence if they have a family member interested in succeeding them. Cllr Healy-Rae, speaking at Friday's Killarney Municipal District meeting, said a jarvey should be afforded this opportunity rather than see the licence they held transferred to another party through a council-run lottery. 'There are families who are at it for generations, who have invested heavily. It's not just their tradition, but it's their livelihood,' Cllr Healy-Rae said. 'If there is no interested family member, well and good, it goes back into the lottery. 'But if there is, they should have a crack of the whip. 'Excuse the pun, but they should. It only makes sense and out of fairplay, I just think this is another case of a bit of bureaucracy gone mad.' Cllr Healy-Rae made the comments while discussing her motion asking the council to explain why a jarvey license-holder cannot transfer their license to a family member. In response, Kerry County Council stated that Killarney Town Council introduced bye-laws regulating horse-drawn hackney carriages to control the industry in 2010. These laws were enacted through the Local Government Act of 2001. 'Bye Law No.5 states that 'In the event that an existing licence holder should cease to hold his/her licence, then it shall automatically revert to the Council. In re-issuing such licences or in issuing fresh licences the Council shall have regard to the provisions of Bye-laws no. 9, 10, 11',' the response read. 'The licenses remain the property of the local authority.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Cllr Healy-Rae asked if the laws specifically stated that a jarvey cannot pass on their licence to an interested family member. The representative doubted the Local Government Act included a statement like this, and questioned if it had been interpreted in a certain way by the old Town Council. She said someone interested in becoming a jarvey could not just take it up from scratch, even with a licence. This is because they would need horses, a carriage and other equipment. 'There's years and decades that goes into it. Our mayor knows more about then I do,' Cllr Healy-Rae said. Killarney Mayor Martin Grady said he wanted to declare that he holds a jarvey licence. Labour Party councillor Marie Moloney seconded her colleague's motion. 'Like any other business running they should be able to pass it down to a family member,' Cllr Moloney said. A council official told members that enacted bye-laws must be followed. The official said the MD had not fully complied with a requirement for licences to be advertised on a regular basis. He acknowledged the financial commitment made by jarveys but said the licences remain council property. Councillors were encouraged to read of the bye-laws relating to the jarvey licensing and return to the council if they still wanted to take action.
