Michael Leahy, a candidate in the European Election for Ireland South, has called for the scrappage of a scheme that offers rental accommodation to Ukrainians tax-free.
The Ennis based architect and planner and Chairman of the Irish Freedom Party, said the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) measure is discriminatory.
“It leaves Irish people and everyone else in a vulnerable position because if a landlord can rent a house tax-free, of course the landlord will choose that option,” Mr Leahy said.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly rate of €800 per property and is tax free to landlords. ‘Those fleeing Ukraine’ are entitled to the payment whether they are working or not and regardless of their salary.
“I believe the tax incentives for landlords that rent property to ‘those fleeing Ukraine’ are unjust and discriminatory against Irish people. If a landlord has a choice to rent a property to a Ukrainian family or an Irish family, the landlord is rewarded by government for choosing the Ukrainian family, because the rental income for a Ukrainian family will be tax free,” Mr Leahy said.
“I believe this is an example of active discrimination against Irish people. It is unjust and unfair. We have a housing crisis and circumstances are particularly difficult for people trying to find rental accommodation. We need to respectfully re-think our priorities on this issue.”
“When it comes to the allocation of social housing, the Irish Freedom Party will prioritise Irish people,” Mr Leahy said.\
“On the Clare Byrne Radio Show on RTÉ radio Thursday, 24th April, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said there was an ‘over reliance’ on the private rental sector but his own government introduced the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) that removes even more rental properties from the market – specifically for refugee use. How can Irish people compete in that market? It’s discrimination.”
“The Minister then said, that he is aware things are very difficult for people looking for rental properties now and he said ‘we need to improve that’ but here again, his own ARP policy shows that he is actively doing the opposite.”