Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I do not doubt his sincerity on this issue at all. One of the key things in this regard concerns some interim measures. We must see this happen while we are waiting for the agency to be established. It is important the stakeholders are consulted in respect of this agency to ensure it works effectively. I refer to local programmes, such as StartSafe, run by our local refuge, Amber, for secondary schools and youth groups. We must try to see where things are working well and how we can replicate them. I find myself saying this a great deal in respect of this topic because some counties have a very good system in place between their local protective services unit, PSU, and their local women's refuge, if they have one. Other counties, though, do not have this. People will have mixed experiences.

I raise this issue in the hope that we can have some sort of a round-table discussion or consultation to see where things are working effectively and if we can replicate that approach. I refer to consulting groups regarding what they might feel could be some interim measures we can undertake. I feel we must do something before we again hear of the death of a woman on the news. It is becoming nearly normalised, which is an horrific thing to say but this is nearly what it feels like. The education aspect is also important. Programmes such as the positive parenting programme, PPP, are very helpful for people once they have come out of abusive relationships. Many of these could be rolled out further.

Additionally, I mention the housing situation. This is a major barrier. I refer to step-down housing. Some counties have this provision and some do not, but anywhere that does now has people going into those houses because there is such a lack of availability in this regard. One or two of the things we could do in the interim would be to make it easier for people to access some short-term measures in this context, such as the housing assistance payment, HAP, and to increase this payment for people in these situations. I am talking specifically about people in domestic violence situations. I say this because often they will go to the local authority and they will find that there is an issue with their name being on a house.

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