Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On top of the thousands of families with eviction notices and those with notices to come, there is another cohort of people, mainly women, that is hugely affected by the housing crisis. A case I really wanted to raise today is that of a constituent who fled an abusive marriage. She has two young children and is currently in a refuge. She has been offered one room with two beds in it for her and the children. One child will get their own bed, the other will sleep with the mother and there is a fridge and a sink at the bottom of one of the beds. One child has a brain injury and the other has just been put on antidepressants and previously had an issue with self harm. They are on the council list, but there are no properties. They qualify for the HAP, but there is nowhere to rent. The council is doing everything it can and I hope she will be sorted, but it brings up the wider issue of supports in cases of domestic violence. The providers are doing so much, but we need to be able to offer better accommodation to these families, in particular those who have children with additional needs. A room with two beds where one child sleeps in a bed with the mother is just not good enough, so I again ask that greater resources be put in place to help those providers assisting people in situations of domestic violence.

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