Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to tailor housing need assessment to cater for those persons who have been victims of domestic abuse. [30407/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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There is a range of services available to deal with needs arising in cases of domestic violence, both in terms of protection of the abused partner and any children, and any need for emergency accommodation. Persons who are subjected to domestic violence do not need to go on the general housing waiting lists to avail of short-term emergency housing.

Where a social housing assessment is an appropriate longer-term response to a case of domestic violence, the household concerned may be determined to be in need of social housing support where, in accordance with the 2011 social housing assessment regulations, a housing authority considers that the household's current accommodation is unsuitable for its adequate housing, having regard to particular household circumstances or on exceptional medical or compassionate grounds. The household must also meet the other need and eligibility criteria prescribed in the 2011 regulations in order to qualify for social housing support.

My Department is currently preparing guidance to promote a uniform response by housing authorities to persons contacting them for assistance following domestic violence.