Danny Healy-Rae Slams £225m Giveaway, Says Rainy Day Fund Starved
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae criticised the decision to allocate £225 million abroad and said it leaves no money to put into the rainy day fund. He argued those funds should instead be used to tackle domestic problems including health care, rising diesel costs, housing and a backlog of local improvement schemes.
Main criticism of the allocation
He insisted the Taoiseach's decision to give away 225 million in Scotland, with a promise for the next 10 years, makes it impossible to fund the so-called rainy day fund. He framed the payment as an avoidable loss at a time when public finances are strained by Covid.
Pressure on households and services
He outlined how many people are already suffering - unable to get proper health care, stuck on waiting lists, or facing homelessness. He highlighted working people and transport businesses hit by surging diesel prices and high rents in towns such as Killarney, Khmer and Dingle.
Local improvement scheme backlog
He noted there are 676 applications on the local improvement scheme list in his area but only 31 schemes completed in the last two years. At that rate he warned it would take roughly 80 years to clear the backlog and urged the minister to address the delay.
Concerns over fuel allowance and benefits
He raised specific worries that some people on benefit payments may not receive fuel allowance, citing illness benefit claimants and pensioners with cancer who could be left without support. He argued these domestic needs should take priority over large external payments.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Thank you very much, Colonel. I'm glad to get the opportunity to talk to this and while I don't blame the Minister we have here, I certainly understand why we can't put any money into this so-called rainy day fund when the Taoiseach went over to Scotland and gave away 225 million this year and a promise of it for the next 10 years. So how could we have any money to put into the rainy day fund? What I acknowledge, Covid has been a strain and a savage strain on the coffers of our finance. I know that this was not the thing to do. We're not a country that's rolling in money to give away 225 million. When there are many, that I say it is raining for many already. People can't get proper health care or a proper service. Working people, people in the transport business, it is pouring down on top of them. The farming community didn't get above the budget and on top of that, diesel is a savage cost now and I say it is raining down on top of them every day because they can't move without diesel and the extra cost. People struggling on the waiting list and many of them are homeless and are suffering, wondering where they are going to finish up. Many with families and maybe being taught to get out of the house that they are renting. It is raining. It is raining for people with high rents, especially in Killarney, in towns like Killarney, Khmer and Dingle. We have 676 schemes, applications in our local improvement scheme list. And we got 31 done in the last two years, this year and last year. Just 31. It will be 80 years before that list is exhausted where we are going, Minister. I am asking you to look at that. We need to look at that and surely we won't give away money next year when things like these have to be dealt with. And can you imagine, Minister, people on benefit payments won't get any fuel allowance. People on illness benefit and even all those people paid stamps, they wouldn't get those benefit payments otherwise. And you could have someone on a benefit payment, an illness benefit payment, living with a pensioner with cancer and they won't get the fuel allowance. Can you imagine that? I know Tisha goes away and gives away £225 million last week. It is absolutely ridiculous. It is raining a lot of other people in our country besides giving it away like that. Thank you, Deputy Deputy Mayor. – I thank you for coming up on the very few emails, and this isn't an added added sales opportunity as we were perlu in the meny rights. Thank you the Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy Mayor McCall James
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
