Taxpayer money can be used for car repairs for eligible persons, including Ukrainian refugees, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed to Gript.
Responding to queries arising from a viral social media video, the Department stated on Wednesday that although there is no specific scheme exclusively dedicated to car repairs for Ukrainians or any other group, Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) may be granted under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme to cover essential costs, including vehicle repairs.
The viral video posted by Waterford garage owner Paul O’Connor, which has garnered over 503,000 views on TikTok, claimed the Department was funding repairs including “several thousand euro” engine replacements for Ukrainian temporary protection applicants, including for high-end vehicles.
The Department clarified that all ANPs are determined individually, based on an assessment of personal circumstances, including household income, savings, and specific needs.
“There is no scheme in place to support Ukrainians or indeed any persons solely for car repairs. However under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, and which is deemed necessary,” the Department stated.
“All cases are considered on a case by case basis based on the need presenting. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. The assessment will also include any income that their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant has.”
The Department further explained the application process: “As part of the application process, a person must provide personal, financial, household, and other information in support of their claim to determine eligibility and to establish a need as considered necessary.”
Asked on what scale Ukrainians were having their car repairs paid for by the State, the Department replied: “An ANP may be provided to assist with car repairs. However it is not possible to extract data solely related to ANPs provided towards car repairs.”
In the video, O’Connor described the payments as “scandalous” and a “complete wastage.”
“I’m not blaming the people who come in,” O’Connor said. “But the system is just so broken here…How is this possible?”
Under the current system, Ukrainians living in Ireland under Temporary Protection are eligible for various supports, including weekly payments and Additional Needs Payments for essential expenses that they cannot meet from regular income.