Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
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The issue I am raising is one of great importance. It relates to the training of elected representatives such that we may be properly able to support victims of domestic violence and abuse. The Government's new housing plan contains strong commitments to victims of domestic abuse. It recognises that when a household is fleeing domestic violence, staying safe often means relocating. The plan ensures that survivors who are forced to relocate will not face barriers in accessing housing supports. Survivors can immediately avail of social housing supports and will not lose time spent on the housing list when moving between local authorities. These are welcome changes which, unfortunately, are necessary. In the second half of 2024, 117 households presented to emergency accommodation due to domestic violence, while this year, 189 households presented.

Policy and procedure alone will not be enough, however. As elected representatives, we witness at first hand the impact domestic abuse has on individuals and families. Ensuring that we are properly equipped to respond to victims is not optional; it is our responsibility. Only with the right knowledge, sensitivity and training can we fulfil the commitments laid out in the Government's plan. During my time as a councillor on South Dublin County Council, I benefited from training delivered by Saoirse Domestic Violence Services. That training helped me and other elected members and staff to better support victims seeking assistance. All elected representatives should be offered and should undertake such training.

The new housing plan rightly contains a commitment to the effect that victims will not face the barrier of having to start over from scratch when relocating to a new local authority area. It also rightly recognises that safety should not mean starting again. I raised this in November 2023 in the form of a motion I tabled at a meeting of South Dublin County Council during my time as a councillor. I am glad to see what was advocated for locally has been taken on board nationally. The supports are in place, but do all elected representatives understand the lived reality of fleeing abuse, of picking up children, of leaving their home under duress? Do we understand how to direct victims to the right supports, ensuring that their housing applications are dealt with sensitively, how to communicate with the local authority and safeguard confidentiality and dignity?

The housing Minister as a crucial role. Will he initiate a nationwide programme of domestic violence awareness and response training for all elected representatives in Ireland? When someone flees an abusive home, they need more than a policy promise. They need an elected representative who knows what to do, how to help and how to ensure the system delivers. Let us ensure that our policy ambition is matched by our practical readiness. I commend the housing Minister on the progress made in the new housing plan. I especially commend him on the focus placed on victims of domestic abuse, showing his understanding of the importance of the changes that are needed. The training of elected representatives must follow swiftly, however, to ensure that we fulfil the commitments laid out in this plan.

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

Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. I cannot overstate how important this training is. That somebody trusts us enough to approach us for help is a privilege we all have in the jobs we are lucky enough to be doing. We do not want to put people wrong. We do not want to miss an opportunity for somebody to escape a terrible situation. It is easy to give people advice when you are not living their reality. It is the training that teaches that patience is often needed and the understanding as to why it may take people several attempts before they leave. They deserve a safe space and a person who they feel knows what they are talking about. I benefited greatly from the training rolled out by Saoirse Domestic Violence Services and I urge all public representatives to get themselves trained on this matter to ensure they do the best for their constituents.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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That is a really good point. Perhaps we should not wait until there is a national programme of training. We should all take it upon ourselves to get training and advice on how to deal with these situations. They are such sensitive matters. At what point should we contact An Garda Síochána? Are we fully aware of all the refuges and shelters for victims of domestic abuse in our areas? All of that comes into account. There is a bit of pressure on us as well to make sure we do the right thing because we have someone who is generally in quite a vulnerable position. All I can say is that I will talk to the Minister about the idea of a national training programme for all public representatives, not just those in local authorities. The message from the Senator is that, with the likes of Saoirse Domestic Violence Services providing this training, there is a bit of an onus on us to reach out, train ourselves up and become more qualified so that we can deal with these situations with more confidence. I thank Senator Costello again for raising this matter.