James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue regarding the Government's strategy on step-down accommodation in cases where a person leaves a domestic violence refuge.

In June, the Government launched zero tolerance, the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Under this five-year ambitious programme of reform, we want to achieve a society that does not accept domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or the attitudes that underpin it. It is a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society plan of action. This Government is committed to implementing in full the 144 detailed actions in the implementation plan for this year and next. The strategy sets out the Government’s objective that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and the overall number of spaces will double over the lifetime of the strategy. By 2024, we expect to have delivered 24 refuge units in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. An interdepartmental group is developing and progressing agreed processes and approaches to ensure we have the highest standard of refuge accommodation delivered in the most efficient way.

In addition, safe homes, another form of emergency domestic violence accommodation, are an important part of that response. Safe homes are usually provided as a separate unit of accommodation, for example, a flat or a house at a community or local level. It generally suits those at low to medium-risk of serious harm. We expect to increase the number of safe homes available by 15 this year. Insofar as the question of step-down facilities is concerned, the new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, working with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will review the pathways into this type of non-emergency accommodation.

The Deputy may also be aware that a protocol established during the pandemic by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, which removed the means test requirement for victims of domestic violence for a three-month period, has now been made permanent. This ensures ease of access for victims of domestic violence to rent supplements.  In addition, under the third national strategy, we have committed to examining other options for victims of domestic violence, such as addressing barriers to remaining in the home, if that is their preferred option.

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