Gombeen: Michael Healy-Rae

I was researching the various Irish politicians making money from Immigration Schemes. I used Grok.

Michael Healy-Rae

Who is Michael Healy-Rae?Michael Healy-Rae is an Irish Independent politician from County Kerry, serving as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency since 2016, and previously for Kerry South from 2011 to 2016. Born on January 9, 1967, he is part of the Healy-Rae political dynasty, being the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, a former TD, and brother to Danny Healy-Rae, also a TD. Michael has been a prominent figure in Kerry politics, known for his distinctive flat cap, strong local presence, and focus on rural issues. He served as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs from 2016 to 2020 and was appointed a Minister of State in January 2025. Before national politics, he was involved in local Kerry politics and various business ventures. His political platform often emphasizes local concerns, such as farmers’ rights and rural infrastructure, though he has also been vocal on national issues like immigration.

How Does He Make Money from Irish Immigration Schemes? Michael Healy-Rae has earned significant income through his property management company, Roughty Properties Ltd, by providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees under contracts with the Irish Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Below are the key details:

• Accommodation Contracts: Healy-Rae’s Rosemont Guest House in Tralee, Co Kerry, owned by Roughty Properties Ltd, has been used to house Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. Department records indicate that Rosemont Guest House received €1.22 million over two years and three months up to December 2024 for accommodating Ukrainians. This includes €151,320 for the first quarter of 2024 alone, in addition to €766,650 across the prior five quarters. In 2023, the contract was estimated to be worth €166,800 (excluding VAT), depending on occupancy rates, for housing 13 Ukrainian refugees in a former guest house on Listowel Road, Tralee.

• Company Profits: Roughty Properties Ltd, where Healy-Rae is the sole shareholder and director, reported combined profits of €841,908 over two years: €465,860 in the year to May 2023 and €376,048 in the year to May 2024. The company’s main activity is “management of rental properties,” and it owns 17 properties, including 14 houses and a B&B guest house in Tralee, with most located in Kerry. These properties are used for various rental purposes, including refugee accommodation.

• Other Business Interests: Beyond refugee accommodation, Healy-Rae’s income sources include Roughty Plant Hire Ltd, which reported accumulated profits of €808,911 by April 2024, and a fuel station and grocery shop in Kilgarvan, which recorded a loss of €26,986 in the same period. He also supplies diesel to Kerry County Council and provides housing under the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Schemes. Additionally, he owns 146 acres of farmland/forestry and holds shares in the New York Times Co.

• Public Criticism: Healy-Rae has faced criticism for profiting from refugee accommodation while publicly opposing government spending on immigration and calling for caps on refugee numbers. During a 2024 Dáil debate on the EU Migration Pact, Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin highlighted that Healy-Rae received €650,000–€660,000 for housing Ukrainian refugees while criticizing immigration policies, accusing him of inconsistency. Healy-Rae defended himself, stating there is “absolute consistency” in providing accommodation as a business while questioning government policy, noting it is not illegal to provide housing and that he has long provided rentals to various groups. He has also argued that an open-door policy is unsustainable due to resource constraints, particularly in Kerry, citing an “over-concentration” of asylum seekers in Killarney.

• Public Sentiment: Posts on X and media reports reflect polarized views. Some, like

  @Mick_O_Keeffe

  , have accused Healy-Rae of profiting from “mass immigration” while portraying himself as a “man of the people,” citing his earnings from housing migrants as hypocritical given his anti-immigration rhetoric. Others note his local popularity stems from addressing constituents’ issues, despite controversies. These posts are inconclusive but highlight public debate around his actions.

Immigration Stance and Context: Healy-Rae, as an Independent TD, aligns with conservative, rural-focused politics. He has expressed concerns about immigration’s impact on local resources, particularly housing, and criticized the government’s handling of asylum seekers and refugees. In 2016, he warned that Brexit could increase immigration to Ireland, potentially lowering wages by 3.9% and straining housing, though he stated immigrants were “of course welcome.” More recently, he has called for a cap on refugee and asylum seeker numbers, citing an “over-concentration” in Kerry and arguing that an open-door policy is unsustainable. His critics, including Labour and some X users, argue his business interests in refugee accommodation contradict his public stance, though he maintains there is no inconsistency.

Notes:

• The term “Irish immigration schemes” in this context refers to government programs to accommodate refugees and asylum seekers, particularly Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Healy-Rae’s income comes from contracts with the Department of Integration, not from illegal immigration.

• The exact number of refugees housed at Rosemont Guest House varies, with 13 reported in 2023, and specific contract details are not fully public due to Healy-Rae’s refusal to disclose beyond legal requirements.

• Public data on payments and profits comes from Department records and Roughty Properties Ltd’s filings with the Companies Registration Office, ensuring reliability.