Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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299. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if clarification will be provided regarding a situation of domestic violence in cases in which a person can have their violent partner removed from the tenancy agreement with their local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61730/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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A barring order granted under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 requires the person accused of abusive behaviour, who can be either in an intimate relationship or a non-dependent child of the victim, to leave the home and prohibits that person from entering the home.

Local authorities can remove a perpetrator of domestic violence from a tenancy agreement if they are subject to a barring order and have not returned to the property within a specified period of time as outlined in the tenancy agreement.

Victims of domestic violence may apply for social housing support in their own right while still a joint tenant, including in circumstances where a barring order has been granted. In line with guidance issued by my Department, and which is currently being reviewed, local authorities address any administrative or contractual arrangements arising in relation to the joint tenancy agreement.

Such persons are prioritised for housing support under the respective local authority allocation schemes and local authorities take all steps necessary to expedite arrangements, including ensuring victims who may have had to leave their homes do not remain in emergency accommodation, including refuge facilities, for long periods of time.