Councillors have urged the local authority to review the use of machinery which has been described as “absolutely under-utilised” across Kerry.
It follows a motion at the recent full meeting of Kerry County Council by Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae.
He sought an update on usage of two patchmasters, which the council purchased for €500,000 in 2019.
The figures show the machines, which fix road defects, were utilised 361 times across all six local electoral areas between 2019 and 2025.
Cllr Healy-Rae said they were heavily used for the first three years, but reduced by over 50% since, and asked the reason for the reduction.
He added the council didn’t invest half a million euro to fix roads, just for the machines to sit idle in a yard.
The motion was seconded by independent councillor Charlie Farrelly, who claimed areas are prohibited from using the machine because of cost.
He stated it’s over €2,000 per day to use the patcher; adding the council previously had four duro-patchers before this, and they were never idle.
Cllr Farrelly said Cork County Council have 15 of such machines, which are all in use every day, and they are in the market for four more.
The council responded that there is not point in having the patchers out in very poor conditions; adding it will look at budgets and review.
