FOOT MASSAGES, PONY LESSONS, LUXURY CAR REPAIRS, "JOBPLUS", SPECIAL PRIVILEGES & GRANTS: ARE IRISH PEOPLE BEING TAKEN FOR A RIDE?
By Susanne Delaney
Expensive reflexology foot massages are being made available to Ukrainian refugees and IPAS clients. This is happening in at least one clinic that I am aware of. I personally know the person providing that service and can guarantee this is happening (taxi services are provided also). Like the garage owner who recently spoke of massive car repair bills being paid for by government departments (with taxpayer money), this person has seen the outrageous absurdity of refugee and IPAS spending.
In addition to (sometimes luxury) car repairs (up to €7,000 in one instance), there have been several claims made online that some Ukrainians are receiving €50 pony lessons provided twice a week. I cannot verify this, but I would be more surprised if this was not true than I would be if it is true.
Last week, my own daughter asked if she could start horse-riding lessons, to which I had to say no. She was disappointed, but at least she's not waiting for something necessary and urgent. There are many children awaiting spinal surgery, child mental health, or special needs services.
What the hell is going on?
The likes of Simon Harris (@SimonHarrisTD) would say I'm pitting Irish people against poor refugees and asylum seekers. But to that, I say, no, Simon Harris.
You are.
Why are Irish people being sabotaged, undermined, and ripped off?
Why are they being treated like second-class citizens?
Why are they being given fewer opportunities? Fewer privileges? Zero respect?
Why are we seemingly being forced out of our own country? Out of the rental market? The purchasable-housing market? The jobs market? Why can't we afford to have kids despite working so hard?
We know who pays your wages Simon Harris (and co).
But who do you really work for?
Why do you despise your own people so much?
Aside from all these freebies given to people (some of whom are evidently well off and own high-end cars), why are they also allowed to work while still receiving free rent, food and utilities? (A minimum-wage job is well-paid when you have no expenses.)
How can Irish people compete?
Why do employers get between €7,500 and €10,000 to take on IPAS applicants and refugees under the JobsPlus scheme? Irish people can avail of this but generally must be on Jobseekers (or other payments) for 24 months before being eligible for the grant, whereas there's no qualifying period for asylum seekers or refugees. There are some exceptions (e.g., for Travellers, they have to be on a payment for 4 months), but in most instances, 24 months is the required period for Irish people.
If you were an employer, who would you take on? The person who brings you up to €10,000? Or the one who doesn't?
Then, there's the ARP payment for Ukrainians, which is likely to be extended to 2026 under an EU Directive. This €800 payment is only given to those who will rent rooms to Ukrainians.
Additionally, since 2022, NGOs and local councils (e.g., Ukrainian Action in Ireland) are offering grants of up to €1,000 to Ukrainians for "integration, entrepreneurial ideas and other projects", and IPAS, once granted refugee status, can receive similar payments through the Irish Refugee Council (NGO) and HSE-funded programs.
Furthermore, while there is technically no recruitment moratorium on hiring Irish healthcare workers, the HSE has implemented a "Pay and Numbers Strategy", which essentially functions as a recruitment moratorium on Irish healthcare workers by another name. Meanwhile, recruitment companies are paid up to €15,000 per non-Irish healthcare worker they recruit (giving an incentive to perhaps not be thorough in vetting), and these workers are provided with accommodation for the first few months that they work here.
Now, after reading this, tell me that we aren't being taken for a ride.
The question is, why? I think I know the answer.
Do you?
