Written answers

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a commitment will be given to keep emergency access to rent supplement in place for victims of domestic violence permanently and beyond the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26177/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Lead responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

In August 2020, I agreed a protocol with Tusla on a pilot basis involving a referral process through Safe Ireland and other service providers resulting in changes to the rent supplement scheme to make it more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence on a pilot basis.  This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic violence are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial or accommodation difficulties.  The protocol was introduced in the context of the current pandemic.

Under the protocol, after six months period of support, it is expected that the customer will, if eligible, be able to migrate to HAP or other social housing supports supported by their local authority.

The arrangements in this protocol are additional and complementary to, and not a substitution for, the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.

There are currently 69 victims of domestic violence being supported with rent supplement under  the pilot scheme which, as the Deputy will be aware, I have extended until the end of this year.  These extended arrangements will be reviewed at that time. 

I remain committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and will continue to review this particular aspect of my Department’s services for further improvement in line with the Programme for Government.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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