INDEPENDENT TD for Kerry South Jackie Healy-Rae said yesterday he expected the Government to provide “several things” for him in return for his continued support, including a Tralee bypass and a promised hospital.
Mr Healy-Rae called for a commitment in the budget to the bypass, estimated at over €100 million, and said funding for an approved community hospital in Kenmare was also necessary.
“We want to try to keep the Government going as long as we can and to get them to try to get the country back on track . . . Well, there’s several things that I expect them to do for me,” he told Radio Kerry. “I will be looking for a commitment for the Tralee bypass . . . I believe that the Tralee bypass is vital to be done, and we’ll have to get it done.”
Credit for a €35 million Castleisland bypass was claimed by Mr Healy-Rae last month.
Mr Healy-Rae has claimed to have struck several deals with the Government on the hospital over a number of years. Yesterday he said the hospital was a “top priority, and that’s almost there”.
Mr Healy-Rae will not contest the next general election. His son, Cllr Michael Healy-Rae, was selected to run for the Dáil in the constituency of Kerry South last week. The deputy claimed he and his son would be meeting Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan shortly, along with Independent TD for Tipperary North Michael Lowry.
Asked if he would withdraw his support for the budget if he was refused the bypass, Mr Healy-Rae said Mr Lenihan had never refused him yet. There was “no indication we are going to be refused”.
The resignation of Donegal TD Dr Jim McDaid from the Dáil this week has left the Government at the mercy of Mr Healy-Rae and Mr Lowry to get one of the toughest budgets in the State’s history through the Dáil.