Ukrainian refugees in Ireland - Megathread

Yes that was notable in the report, the issue of losing SW supports if they took up work. Chap in Cork was it? involved in engineering/ fabrication who also mentioned that Ukrainian men were coming to him looking for work... hmmm. Send them back.

The hospitality sector aspect is a bit chicken & egg I agree. Then there's the fact that it's virtually all minimum wage at entry level, doesn't matter how good you are, take it or get spat out.

English, not at all the issue, contributors spoke it fluently.

No such problems getting around in my area, Free bus to nearest town, 3 times a week.

Yes it's been noted before some have seriously good qualifications, I've not heard much from them but yes, very difficult to verify qualifications, Doctors etc and some Skills / Qualifications not recognised in Ukraine, are not recognised here or need additional studies.

Yep, Hospitality have made a Dogs Dinner of things.

It's a pity the Government didn't actually think first. They, I believed had this bizzare notion this open door policy would solve in part the recruitment crisis. It was fanciful back in March and is even more fanciful now.

I worked in hospitality years ago, there's 0 chance someone gives up €203 +benefits a week to work minimum wage 20-30 hours per week. Zero chance.

And sure, its only women so who will mind their kids.

Hundreds of millions in no time- 40,000 plus is a huge % to the welfare budget. Plus they all have Accomodation costs which a lot of Irish welfare recipients wouldn’t be “entitled”.

It’s hard to believe we have such an idiotic government but I suppose not too surprising

I was being generous 😉

The hospitality sector is supposed to be a pathway for newly trained Chef's or front of house staff. Now they won't be able to progress as 1, there's no hotels to work as they are becoming refuge center's, 2 poor wages, 3 nowhere to live + nowhere to rent for cheap. Failte Ireland are state funded, so they need to get their act together.

I could write a book on what's wrong with the Hospitality sector, I'm actually an experienced Chef, Taught Culinary arts, Worked in at least 15 countries, Managed Hotels, even worked for financial institutions after the mess of the last financial crash and still do some private work.

I recall a time when it was a profession, highly skilled but the the "Hospitality" aspect of the industry here long gone apart from the very few gold standard establisments who've retained staff true respect, appreciation and reward for decades.

But that's for another day but yes I agree completely with your observation.

You aren't much better than they are. If a war happens here (and it may) - you, probably, would change your views on the camps.

Also your approach would inevitably cause a spike in crime stats.

Austria's population is 9 million and has accepted almost 80,000 displaced people from Ukraine.

The financial support available to Ukrainian refugees in Austria is €260 for an adult, and €145 for an adult or child dependent, monthly. Locals and non for profit charities host the majority of refugees, for those who rent accommodation privately there is an additional €165 towards the rent per person (up to €330 for a family)

Ireland's welfare benefit of €901 is 3.5 times that of Austria, it needs to be reduced to be in line with European rates and to prevent "benefit tourism".

Consumer prices in Austria are only 3.66% lower than in Ireland, so paying 350% more is not reasonable.

Wanting to move from the warzone that is sunny Spain to the wet, damp, and as they claim themselves 'sadness' of Ireland.

Wouldn't have any thing to do with the overly generous free payments courtesy of the squeezed Irish would it. The gravy train is in full flow lads and it's not stopping any time soon.

No, you may be referring to the €3 billion put aside by government for next year to cover humanitarian and Refugee costs, presumably this includes asylum seekers costs also.

It's very difficult to pin down an approximate cost per Ukrainian refugee, I believe government projected €30 k per refugee which I think is Conservative.

But at 43k currently admitted, estimated to reach at least 80k by years end, at 35k estimated cost per refugee, the figures are staggering.

Just to add it only cost 1000 polish zloty to rent an apartment in the east of Poland. That's about 230 euro per month. That's what the government should be doing with the money at best.

I've said many times, Our Government should have targeted financial aid towards bordering countries and put their hands up from the outset and said we've no Accommodation, Infrastructure or Plan, be honest for a change instead of 6 months of Chaos, ineptitude and a complete debacle.

Some will say why bother support, I don't accept some reasonable level of support wasn't justified but essentially they jumped head first, not fully understanding the cost of the EU directive, nor how open it was to abuse.

I can see not a single reason that is logical to encourage displacement (albeit supposed to be temporary) of 10"s of thousands across an entire content to an island nation at a staggering cost to taxpayers.

I'm lead to believe this was actually a narrow mind, cynical and Niaeve ploy by government to encourage migration to solve a recruitment crisis under some delusion irish people will put all these refugees up in free accommodation.

That hasn't quite gone to plan and now 43k are here and many more coming, it will be practically impossible to send them back and cut SW payments. Government have essentially created a potentially Decade long problem and we're absolutely negligent, no mater what spin is put on it.

Had enough all this but there was absolutely no need to be issuing PPS numbers or MC especially with absolutely no verifications, controls or checking in place or possible, it's utter madness.