Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I followed with interest the contributions of all speakers. This debate has shone a spotlight on an important issue, especially in the week that we have had. I acknowledge that the views articulated by Deputies are sincerely held. All of us are Deputies who represent our constituents and we all meet people who are vulnerable to or have been affected by domestic violence. This has been a wide ranging debate, with many aspects of domestic violence brought to the fore. As I am responsible for housing, I will address that aspect of the debate in more detail. A number of speakers expressed concerns about the resources provided to refuges. Support services for victims are also very important and require constant support. Reference was also made to the need to reform the Domestic Violence Act 1996. The Minister for Justice and Equality expects to publish draft heads of a Bill in early 2015 to consolidate and reform this legislation and address all aspects of domestic violence. All Deputies and Senators will have an opportunity to contribute to this new Bill in a more detailed and comprehensive manner.

I acknowledge the work done by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Deputy Stanton outlined the debate and consultation that has already taken place with stakeholders who work with victims of domestic violence. The committee has produced a report which makes a number of recommendations in this area.

All Members recognise the wider societal charges and that, as parliamentarians, they must respond to this challenge insofar as it is possible to do so.

I will reiterate the reason the Government opposes the Bill. While I acknowledge Deputies Mary Lou McDonald, John McGuinness and others stated the Government should support it, the Bill, as tabled, refers directly to housing legislation. I have acknowledged the genuine thrust behind the Bill and everyone has welcomed the debate on it, but with the greatest of respect, recent changes in housing law give local authorities the flexibility they need to meet the housing needs of persons affected by marriage breakdown or separation until such time as they can regularise their situation. The legislation in question was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, having been finalised in the Seanad last July, and has been enacted and in place since September this year. I will go so far as to state the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has and will again issue instructions to the housing offices of the local authorities to ensure the legislation, as enacted, is being used in the best interests of those who are most in need. They include they victims of domestic violence, as well as those who are vulnerable owing to homelessness, and the rental accommodation scheme and the new housing assistance payment scheme are being made available to them. To clarify, the housing assistance payment scheme is being run on a pilot basis in a number of local authorities until the end of this year, but the Government and my Department are determined to roll it out nationally in early 2015.

To address other aspects raised, another important point is that the national strategy on domestic sexual and gender based violence is under review. Action 10 of the strategy states clearly that policy guidance for local authorities on their housing remit regarding domestic violence will be published by the end of the year. This will be important because I have picked up from a number of contributions made by Members that the supports available in housing departments in local authorities nationwide are possibly not what they should be. I must acknowledge on the floor of the Parliament the concerns being expressed and will ask my departmental officials to do what they can to ensure this policy guidance is issued and gives the clear instruction requires to the various housing authorities.

As for some other areas about which Members have expressed concern, Deputy John McGuinness castigated the Government and legislators for sitting on their hands. This is odd because, as noted previously, the Government has implemented housing legislation this year that specifically addresses the problem for separated persons, including victims of domestic violence, and the issue of social housing supports. This is not future legislation; I reiterate that it was enacted in July and has been in operation since September.

Deputy Catherine Murphy, among others, expressed concerns about housing in general and the huge housing challenge the country was facing. Members must acknowledge that there has been little or no direct funding for local authorities to provide houses in the past decade. The social housing strategy, to be published shortly, has been given the highest of priority by the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and the Government which in budget 2015 is putting its money where its mouth is, with the provision of more than €800 million in funding to provide housing supports. This will amount to more than €2.2 billion in the next three years to fund the social housing strategy. This will address the social housing challenge in a number of ways, prioritising, first and foremost, the existing stock and bringing housing voids back into beneficial use. Additional funding has been provided for local authorities nationwide in this regard.

This has been a highly beneficial debate. I commend Deputy Dessie Ellis bringing the Bill to the floor of the Chamber. The Government will oppose it on the basis that it has enacted legislation that will address the concerns outlined in the Bill. However, I welcome the imminent publication of the social housing policy strategy which will address the acute shortage of social housing. I hope Deputies on all sides will see the determination of the Government to address the deficit in that area.

See this speech in context