Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The issuing of this 2017 policy and guidance was a significant action in the second national strategy on Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) 2016-2021, and has since played an important role in addressing the housing needs of victims and survivors of DSGBV, providing direction to housing authorities in supporting victims of domestic violence.

On the 28 June, 2022 the Department of Justice published Zero Tolerance, the third National Strategy on DSGBV 2022-2026. As an action in this strategy, my Department committed to a review of the 2017 Policy and Procedural Guidance for Housing Authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs in order to ensure continuing effectiveness and consistency in responses to assist victims of domestic violence. This review is now complete and emerging recommendations will be shared with external stakeholders for input in the coming weeks. Any updates to the policy and guidance will be communicated to local authorities in due course.

In the meantime, local authorities should continue to have regard to the 2017 Guidance.