Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of victims of domestic violence to access rent supplement, by county to date and refusals in tabular form; number applying for associated supports under supplementary welfare supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34931/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide.  

Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla-funded service providers.  This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast track approval and screening process with a simplified means test  to get immediate access to rent supplement so that they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns.

The standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three month period.  After three months, a further three month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment. 

After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports and, if eligible, will be able to access the Housing Assistance Payment, a social housing support provided by Local Authorities. 

Access to rent supplement is additional and complementary to the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, an additional needs payment can be awarded to assist with once off or ongoing costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.  Decisions on payments and supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. 

Statistics are not held on the number of applications for additional supports by victims of domestic violence. 

There are 38 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with 226 cases supported since the Protocol came into operation in August 2020.  There have been no refusals to date.

Table 1 shows the number accessing support by county to date and the current recipients by county.

Table 1 - The number accessing support by county to date and the current recipients by county.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.