Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to discuss a section under pillar 2, enabling victims and survivors to live in safe accommodation as a priority. We have spoken at length about the need for refuge places and the need for those pathways, hubs and other supports. I want to look at specifically in this instance where the safest place for the survivor is in the family home. Yesterday afternoon SPARK and One Family made a presentation in the audiovisual room at which a deeply concerning issue was raised that I was not aware of. Where a barring order has been put in place because of domestic violence and the abusing partner pays the mortgage on the property, that is assessed as means for the purposes of social welfare. Phenomenal steps were taken during the Covid pandemic relating to rent supplement where the survivor of domestic violence needed to seek alternative accommodation. In this situation there seems to be a very real discrepancy that is resulting in survivors and their children being further traumatised because if that is taken in as means, it results in reduced social welfare payments and increased levels of poverty. The outlook for the family is much more challenging than it could be if this was simply looked at again.

We are in a position to provide payment, and rightly so, to those who flee the family home because of domestic violence but there does not seem to be the same corresponding level of support for those who are in a position to stay in the family home and the perpetrator of the abuse leaves. Is the Minister aware of the discrepancy and anomaly? What engagement has she had with her Cabinet colleagues who have more responsibility for social welfare payments, specifically under the second pillar of the convention that calls for safe accommodation to be made a priority?