Written answers

Thursday, 20 May 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Domestic Violence

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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290. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the existing domestic violence emergency rent supplement will be established on a permanent basis to ensure that such support is available post-Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27375/21]

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 70 victims of domestic violence being supported with rent supplement under this pilot which I have extended to the end of this year. The pilot will then be reviewed in order to inform any longer-term decisions in this area.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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