Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures being taken to identify and support social housing recipients and applicants along with their families in difficult domestic violence situations; the training being provided to staff in public and private housing associations and authorities to ensure that these persons are being dealt with appropriately given the various situations that can arise from domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4924/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. As such, the matters raised by the Deputy in relation to the resources provided to support victims of domestic violence and capacity in refuges is a matter for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

In terms of housing services, in 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers working, highlighting where they can be of greatest assistance to their clients, covering a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports. These include provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.

The guidance was introduced with the objective of supporting a partnership approach by statutory agencies in respect of the delivery of domestic violence services, particularly in relation to helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating the provision of long term accommodation for victims of domestic violence.