Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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578. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the special access to the rent supplement for victims of domestic violence beyond the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52189/21]

Heather 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 to make rent supplement more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence.b This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic violence are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial or accommodation difficulties. 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 47 victims of domestic violence being supported with rent supplement under these arrangements.

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

A review of the pilot has been undertaken, involving key stakeholders, and I will be bringing the results of that review to Government shortly. Subject to the agreement of my Government colleagues, I will then be in a position to set out my intentions for the future direction of the pilot scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.