Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Costello. On the back of her raising this, I will bring it to the senior Minister, Deputy Browne. What she is asking for is incredibly important and necessary and there should be no reason we cannot do it. The issue she raises is very thought-provoking. It makes us all, as local representatives, think about whether, when we have been in that position of trying to support survivors or victims of domestic abuse, we have always given the right guidance. The Senator is right - I know I do not have the training, expertise or knowledge in terms of pointing people who contact my constituency office where to go and as to what supports they can get. I have learnt slowly over the years but I never had that training, and I should have had it. Luckily, I have a terrific team in my office who have far more knowledge about how to deal with situations involving women, in particular, in really desperate situations. I commend Senator Costello for raising this here because it is something that needs to happen. Quite often, constituency offices are the go-to places for people who find themselves in desperate situations. They are often in incredibly emotional and anxious states and are looking for support. If we are their go-to office then we need that proper training. Well done to Senator Costello on pointing that out.

I have a response to read as well. I probably will not get through all of it. It sets out what kind of training is there at the moment, which many will know already. Each local authority is required to adopt a training and development programme for elected members. This is more relevant to councillors. Approval for attendance by an individual member at any course is a matter for each local authority to decide within its budget, in the context of its annual training and development programme. A contribution towards relevant education and training programmes at QQI level 6 and higher is only one of a number of supports available to elected members to assist them in carrying out their role. Local authorities may provide up to €700 per annum per councillor for attendance at conferences and seminars. Councillors may also attend appropriate events organised by recognised bodies, and training by the Institute of Public Administration, as well as the spring and autumn seminars held by the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and by the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA.

The AILG is a recognised training body for the provision of appropriate and relevant training to elected members. Since 2014, the AILG has typically provided six themed training and development modules each year that are delivered on a regional basis in conjunction with Departments, State agencies and local authorities. The review of strategic policy committees, SPCs, made recommendations in relation to training for their members. On foot of these recommendations, the AILG and Institute of Public Administration delivered the first strategic policy committee induction session on 17 April 2025, and training for SPC chairs was delivered on 2 and 3 September. These were well received and it is intended to provide further training sessions for SPC members. It is expected that the forthcoming local democracy task force may look at further areas to support councillors in the discharge of their functions. There is an opportunity there to introduce training for public members in relation to dealing with victims and survivors of domestic violence.

My Department recently published Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030. One of the key pillars is that of supporting people. A key part of this pillar is homelessness prevention but another key part, as the Senator has rightly said, relates to supporting survivors of domestic abuse. What the reply is pointing out is that within local authorities there are training seminars that can be attended by councillors. There is definitely a discussion to be had there from the AILG and LAMA as to whether more conferences should be held on training for public representatives. That only targets councillors, however. As I said at the outset, the offices of Senators and TDs right across Ireland tend to be go-to support tools for survivors and they need to be trained better. Senator Costello has hit the nail on the head and I will undertake to take this back to the Minister for housing to ensure this is rolled out.