Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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482. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 18 October 2022, the total number of persons approved for domestic violence rent supplement in 2022; the number of those who were successful in securing accommodation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4180/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Primary 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.

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. 

While this protocol to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing rent supplement was initially introduced in August 2020 in response to the pandemic, I was pleased to announce in November 2021 that the measure has been made a permanent feature of the rent supplement scheme. 

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

In the period since August 2020, 266 victims of domestic violence have been supported with rent supplement under the protocol.  There are 23 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with a further 36 victims of domestic violence being supported on rent supplement subject to the standard rent supplement means assessment and eligibility criteria, following a period of support under the domestic violence protocol.

Table 1 shows the number accessing rent supplement support under the domestic violence protocol at end of month for 2022.

Table 1 – The number accessing rent supplement support under domestic violence protocol at end of month for 2022

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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483. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending fuel allowance to households in receipt of working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4185/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023.  The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  Only one allowance is paid per household.

While Working Family Payment (WFP) is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance, people may receive fuel allowance while on WFP if they have an entitlement based on their primary payment (e.g. One Parent Family Payment).

The estimated cost of extending the Fuel Allowance payment to all those in receipt of the Working Family Payment (WFP) is €23.2 Million.  This estimate is based on a weekly Fuel Allowance rate of €33 and a payment period of 28 weeks.