KERRY COUNTY Council has been asked to explain how a valuable Civil Defence rescue boat “which had a very easy life” and a full range of accessories was advertised for sale on an internet site for a fraction of the original cost, without the full knowledge of the council and without going to public tender.
A spokesman for the council admitted the advertisement “should not have been put up on the internet”. While the boat was still for sale, it had been removed from the site, donedeal.ie.
Proper procedures dictate public property must be sold by tender or at public auction for which notice is given.
The six-year-old, 6.5m Humber Ocean Pro rigid hull inflatable rescue boat (Rib) was advertised as having being bought new for €50,000. It had only covered 350 hours at the time and “in that time has been very well-maintained” the website said. The sale price was €16,500. Independent Kerry county councillor Brendan Cronin, who stumbled across the advertisement on the internet, has called for a full written explanation from the council.