Ms Fiona Ryan:

I echo the comments of everyone seated around the table. We are missing a general systemic response to the problem. I can tell the committee how it works for real. For example, if one lives in one Dublin local authority area and experiences domestic violence one cannot opt for housing in another local authority area. That sounds ridiculous. I am talking about not being able to move from one local authority area to another even though it may be in the best interest of risk and safety planning. That is a ludicrous situation. Who does it suit? Are we letting bureaucracy dictate safety priorities? The truth is that we are and I am reporting what happens on the ground.

We are suffering a resource shortage and this is not Sonas making a pitch for extra funding. At present, domestic violence services are under pressure. It needs to be recognised that women and children are being made homeless due to domestic violence even if one is a homeowner or lives in a local authority house. This is not an alternative accommodation issue having to be taken into account because domestic violence means one must leave one's home.

I agree that the ideal solution would be for the perpetrators, not women and children, to leave their homes. When such a measure was implemented in Australia or the UK it required a high level of police and emergency first response buy-in. Ireland is not at that place yet. It would be great if we were but the reality is that we still need refuges and we need a continuum. To a certain extent - and let us be honest here - domestic violence services are being asked to take in general homelessness needs. That is the truth of it. The reality is that when it comes to finding a place for someone who, for example, leaves our refuge in Blanchardstown, that person ends up in homeless services because there is nowhere to put him or her. We have a massive housing shortage. We heard Ms Byrne from the Child and Family Agency identify the housing need. This is not just about housing but a place of safety. I am talking about a place where someone's risk and safety can be managed. We have a massive housing shortage at the moment but we are not addressing the problem. The system is not working. Only 2% of landlords are willing to take rent allowance. Rents in Dublin average between €1,200 and €1,400 per month so that means a €400 shortfall for any family.

We need to address the core issues and politicians have the power to do so by changing housing legislation, and calling on the Minister for Social Protection and various Ministers responsible, including the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, to work together to provide real solutions for victims of domestic violence. Otherwise, we will be here in ten years' time. It will like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.