Fear an ti's fury at plan to end tax relief
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A FURIOUS 'fear an ti' hit out last night at the Commission for Taxation's proposal to abolish tax relief for those providing student accommodation in the Gaeltacht.
Aodh Mac Ruairi compared the job to being an "adoptive parent" for groups of teenagers, every day for nine weeks.
The Donegal Gaeltacht man made the decision to take students from an Irish college into his home this year after he lost his job in construction.
Income from the Rann na Feirste students, which amounts to €23 per child per day, forms a vital part of his household budget, which is now under threat of taxation.
"Timewise, it is around the clock. You are virtually their adoptive parents for those three weeks. They bring with them all the issues that any young teenagers would have, including homesickness and injuries."
This summer, Mr Mac Ruairi and his wife Gearoidin, had an average of 12 students staying in their home every day, along with their own three children, who are all under the age of 10. However, the prospect of taxation and other cuts have seriously worried him.
"The figure of €23 to house one person from morning till night is a ludicrous sum as it is," said Mr Mac Ruairi. "This is a huge part of my income now that I am unemployed. It is the same for most in this area. People would use it specifically to send their children to college, not to buy fancy cars or house extensions.
"It has been like this since 1926 when the college opened and the money would be used to school children.
" It was money that was safe and could be banked upon."
A delegation seeking for better funds are due to meet with Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv on September 1.
- Shane Hickey
