Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of victims of domestic violence referred to social protection access housing supports in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [15636/23]

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.

In the period since August 2020, 281 victims of domestic violence have been supported with rent supplement under the protocol. There are 20 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with a further 37 victims of domestic violence being supported on rent supplement subject to the standard rent supplement means assessment and eligibility criteria, following the initial period of support under the protocol.

Table 1 - The total number accessing rent supplement support under the domestic violence protocol from August 2020 to date in 2023 by year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.