Dr. Stephanie Holt:

I thank the Chairman and other members for hearing my contribution to this debate. I will talk first about an issue in respect of which I have particular expertise - children's experience of domestic violence - before making some significant links to homelessness and, in particular, the significant risks to which children can be exposed as a result of that experience. One of the difficulties historically across all jurisdictions - it is not really an Irish issue - is how we respond appropriately to the welfare and protection needs of children who are exposed to domestic violence. That concerns how we understand the issue.

I have three points to make concerning that. One of the issues has been, similarly to homelessness and somewhat paradoxically, that domestic violence has traditionally been seen as an adult affair that does not concern children. This was despite a burgeoning evidence base to the contrary that would robustly suggest otherwise. International evidence on the prevalence of children's exposure to domestic violence would say that they are centrally involved in every aspect of that.

Domestic violence can be seen as episodic, something that happens every now and again. For the children who experience it, however, it is something that pervades their lives absolutely. It is something with which they live. They live with fear, anger and parents whose parenting capacity is somewhat compromised to various degrees. Exposure to domestic violence is clearly linked to child abuse and there is empirical evidence to support this. At its basic minimum, living with domestic violence is seen as a form of emotional abuse. That is reflected in our Children First guidelines. It is also clearly linked to the physical abuse of children and, to a lesser degree, their being sexually abused.

Unfortunately, for those experiencing domestic abuse, it is rarely the only issue that children, young people and families are experiencing. Alongside that, there is a multiplicity of other issues which complicate that experience to some degree. In that mix are substance abuse and mental health issues for parents and children. Seriously disturbed children are presenting with suicidal ideation as a result of that experience. Poverty also comes with that. Alongside the latter is homelessness, which we are discussing today. That presents a dynamic risk for children which is ongoing and quite difficult to tackle.

Focusing specifically on the issue of homelessness, it is a significant stressor in the lives of children and families. Poverty is both an antecedent to homelessness and it significantly adds to the stress that families experience. However, being homeless, which may arise from the need to leave a violent relationship, also significantly elevates the risk for children and their non-abusing parent. As Ms Ryan has already pointed out, the latter is largely the mother. Being homeless also seriously compromises their safety.

Before coming to my second point, I wish to highlight that the presence of domestic violence is a consistent factor in serious case reviews, both here and in the UK. We are talking about death and serious injury to children. Domestic violence is in the mix for many of those cases.

My second point concerns when families leave due to an experience of domestic violence. The drive behind a lot of social health care, child protection and welfare and An Garda Síochána activity is generally to keep people safe - leaving a scene and arriving at a safe point. Somewhat paradoxically, the first six months post-separation is the most dangerous time for women and children. Their risk of serious assault or lethal assault - that is, serious assault or situations where assault results in murder - increases by 50% during that first six-month period, which is quite significant. That is across all jurisdictions. In entering homelessness to get away from violence, women and children are at an increasing risk of lethal assault and our ability to protect them is compromised quite seriously. If we combine the first point about exposure to domestic violence and the second point about that leaving point and entering homelessness, I refer to what Ms Ryan was talking about, namely, that perfect storm. It is probably a slightly unfortunate term to use because there is nothing perfect about women and children choosing to leave home and enter homelessness. I use the word "choosing" in its broadest sense because very often it is not a choice.

The impact of domestic violence on children is generally central to the decision the woman makes to leave her intact relationship with her abusive partner and to enter homelessness. However, in doing so - and with some of the very unstable housing options there for her at the moment, particularly but not exclusively the hotel accommodation - her risk and the child's is elevated to a degree that is of huge concern to those of us who engage in research and practice with children and families who are experiencing domestic violence.

Our mandatory responsibility to promote and the welfare of and protect children is completely compromised given the current housing options and the lack of engagement with the debate around domestic violence and homelessness. There is a need to make that link. Ms Ryan referred to the gendered nature of domestic violence and that is very clearly seen in the current rise, a huge spike, in single parent families who are entering homelessness and the significant degree of domestic violence in the background to those situations. This is a very complex and multifaceted issue which requires an equally multifaceted response; one that demands a multi-agency, multi-professional and perhaps an intra-governmental approach to an issue that is quite complex.