Government Payments To Landlords To House International Protection Applicants Should "Stop", Says Local Senator

It's understood that landlords housing International Protection Applicants are being paid up to €76 per person per night.

Government intervention in the private rental market to house International Protection Applicants should be "stopped".

Commenting on the state's practice of paying to lodge International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in privately owned residences, Kildare South Senator, Fiona O'Loughlin, said locals are being priced out of the market.

She said Kildare County Council has attempted to buy properties for use among communities, but have been pushed out of the market by private buyers seeking to house international protection applicants.

She claimed that new regulations to combat the practice will take time to have any impact.

She outlined how there is a very real concern that "locals will be further priced out of the market", with fears that landlords will buy up homes in estates to tap into this "lucrative opportunity".

"There's a very real concern that these will be completely excluded from the property market, exorbitant as it even is presently. The residents of this older established estate are some of the finest people; they would have hopes that family members could possibly buy or rent close to them."

She added: "They are hugely concerned, as are many, that we will have landlords buying up properties and estates to tap into this lucrative opportunity should it present itself."

She said the issue is not about who is being housed, but the start of a practice where IPAS are taking from the private market - with just 13 homes available to rent in Newbridge.

It's understood that landlords housing International Protection Applicants are being paid up to €76 per person per night.

"The ordinary working person could not compete with rent rates IPAS are paying," she said.

Kfm recently highlighted how a single house in Pairc Mhuire in Newbridge is to be let by the Government to house up to 12 International Protection Applicants.

Earlier this month, up to 70 residents of the Pairc Mhuire estate attended a public meeting to express their concerns and dissatisfaction at the situation.

However, some did say they would support refugees moving into the house - if they were all from the same family.

The Residents Association Committee have met with an official from Roderic O'Gorman's office and have sent a letter via registered post to Minister O'Gorman, and are awaiting a response/further clarification.

O'Loughlin said residents of Pairc Mhuire estate would have hopes that family members could buy or rent close to them.

She said the owner of the property recently signed a contract with IPAS at an exorbitant "price to the taxpayer".