Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to get the opportunity to raise a number of concerns people in Kerry and Killarney have in regard to the massive number of Ukrainians who have been placed in hotels and guesthouses around the county. Over 35% of hotel beds in the town of Killarney are being taken up by refugees. People in Killarney, and all Kerry people, worked together for almost 150 years to bring the tourism product to where it was. However, as a result of a shortage of beds there has been a serious reduction in footfall. Many small restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and craft shops are struggling. In Killarney, six such businesses have already closed, as well as four in Killorglin and more in many other places. I ask the Government to address this serious situation immediately.

On housing, I ask for a very serious anomaly to be addressed. A local Killarney or Kerry person seeking to rent a private house will only get HAP or RAS from the State, which many homeowners will not entertain. Householders will get €800 per month tax free for housing Ukrainians. Local Kerry and Irish people do not have a hope of competing with that. I want the same tax exemption to apply to our own people who are trying to rent. There is no homeless centre in Killarney; homeless people have to go to Tralee. I do not have to say who is in that centre now.

I know the law on social welfare payments is changing for refugees who arrive here from now on. All of those who have arrived until now receive the same social welfare payments as Irish people, and we have been told they have all received a medical card and all of the entitlements that come with that. Many local people, even those who are sick and in need of a medical card, do not qualify for one. I want the same benefits and conditions to be made available to Irish people. They should all get the same ophthalmology and dental treatments.

For as long as I can remember, in order to qualify for free school transport a child had to be living more than two miles from the nearest primary school. This is not the case for Ukrainian children. They are all brought by school transport to national schools and there is no limit on distance. They get free transport. Secondary school students in Killarney have been travelling to Killorglin for years and do not qualify for free school transport. There are 11 Ukrainian children on one bus. I asked that 13 children from Killarney also be allowed to travel in order to fill the 24 seats on the bus, which was organised by the Minister for Education, but my request was turned down. I want our own people and children to get the same consideration as anyone else when it comes to school transport.

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