A Waterford garage owner says that Ukrainians refugees are having repairs to cars, including engine replacement, paid for by the taxpayer – and that his business has received payments from the Department of Social Protection for same.
In a viral video posted to TikTok, which has accrued 384,000 views at the time of this article’s publication, Paul O’Connor said that from speaking to other dealers they had also come across the issue, adding that he wanted to bring the issue to public attention as he considered it an issue of wasteful expenditure and that it was a comment on the system rather than those making the claim.
“I’m not blaming the people who come in,” he said, saying that he had no issues with asylum seekers and those who came to the country to work and pay taxes. “But the system is just so broken here,” he said. “How is this possible?” the business owner added, describing the payments as “scandalous” and a “complete wastage”.
He said that he had seen Irish customers “genuinely struggling” to pay for repairs to their cars, and that it was “not far-right or anti-immigration” to point out that payments for car repairs for people who were not paying taxes was “completely wrong”.
He said that in one instance a €600 bill from his workshop was paid by the Department of Social Protection – and that quotes for a new engine costing “several thousands” for a “premium-branded” car with Ukrainian registration plates were also to be sent to the Department.
After the video went viral, O’Connor posted a follow-up video saying that the clip had gone “way, way more viral than I thought it would”, but that he still “100%” stood by what had been said.
“The point is that some people come into the country, contribute very little, and get a lot of things for free, and we all know that this is actually the case,” he said, adding: “I also don’t like to see Irish layabouts, and Irish people completely milking the system either, so is not just an ‘asylum seeker’ thing or a ‘foreign’ thing at all…we all want a bit of fairness in this country.”
The Department of Social Protection says that Ukrainians who are living in Ireland under Temporary Protection are entitled to receive support and services to assist them, including a net weekly payment per adult and child subject to an income test, while also being entitled to the Working Family Payment (WFP) and Child Benefit.
In addition Ukrainians can also apply for an Additional Needs Payment – which the Department of Social Protection describes as “essential expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income or other sources”.
The Department gives an increase in your fuel or electricity costs; essential repairs to property, including, replacing household appliances and furniture; and funeral costs as examples.
The Irish Refugee Council says that “anyone can apply for an Additional Needs Payment if they have an essential need that they cannot afford”, adding that “the application could be approved or rejected.”
Speaking to Gript, one TD said that he had “often” gotten people assistance over the years through the scheme, and that where there were deemed to be “unusual circumstances” it was not uncommon to see people assisted with any number of personal difficulties “on humanitarian grounds”, such as funeral costs, “if your oven breaks down and you have absolutely no way of replacing it,” or things of that nature. However, he said that it was means tested and that while individuals could request help with anything in theory, not every request was approved.
In relation to tax on cars, Ukrainians who arrived in Ireland have been entitled to apply for a vehicle temporary exemption, meaning they did not have to pay vehicle registration tax.
Last October, the Minister for Finance said that just six vehicles have been registered here with Ukraine recorded as the country of origin since 1 Feb 2022. “However, the majority of Ukrainian vehicles would likely fall under the Temporary Exemption criteria and other derogations available to Ukrainian nationals. Revenue does not hold a record of the overall number of Ukrainian vehicles brought into Ireland,” he said.
The Department of Social Protection has been contacted for comment, as has the viral garage owner. No reply has yet been received, with O’Connor saying in his follow-up video that he “does not want to discuss” the matter “any further” or engage in “activism”.
Loading ...