Sligo-Leitrim TD slams ‘discriminatory’ treatment of Irish citizens in back-to-work schemes

Questions have been raised over Ukrainian refugees in Ireland being given preferential treatment over Irish citizens regarding Government back-to-work schemes.

Independent Sligo-Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry criticised as ‘discriminatory’ the requirement that Ukrainian refugees in Ireland need to be unemployed for nine months to access community employment schemes. 

Irish citizens must be unemployed for a year.

The Independent TD has previously criticised the Government’s 'favouritism’ towards Ukrainians.

Earlier this year, he told the Dáil that the Government’s policy on Ukrainian refugees creates a ‘two-tier system,’ calling out the inability to provide accommodation for those ‘very genuine cases’ seeking international protection.

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Last November, Mr MacSharry also said it was discriminatory that Ukrainian students can attend third-level education for free, when Irish students can’t.

Mr MacSharry wrote to Minister Humphreys TD asking to revisit the eligibility criteria for back to work schemes. 

“It has been brought to my attention by a number of community employment supervisors who are running very successful community employment schemes around the country, that Irish citizens are being discriminated against when it comes to filling community employment placements,” wrote Mr MacSharry.

“I very much regret the ­reality that this favouritism towards Ukrainian nationals only serves to fuel resentments, undermine solidarity and nurtures ethnic intolerance in local communities.

“I strongly urge you to immediately revisit the scheme eligibility criteria and urgently re-establish the same qualifying period for all applicants,” he added.

The Department of Social Protection told Mr MacSharry that the eligibility criteria for community employment schemes are kept under active review by the department.

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As of May 2024, there are 884 Ukrainians living in Leitrim. The issue of perceived preferential treatment of refugees remains a pressing one in local communities.