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Domestic Violence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Questions (1179, 1180, 1183, 1184, 1185, 1186, 1188, 1189, 1190, 1191, 1251, 1277, 1279, 1281, 1283, 1286)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1179. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person with lead responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid-19 response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to put in place a short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6315/20]

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Cathal Crowe

Question:

1180. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans in place to progress short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency (details supplied). [6316/20]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

1183. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person or body that has lead responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid-19 response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and if a short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation as a result of domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of Covid-19 emergency will be put in place. [6679/20]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

1184. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she can progress short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation as a result of domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency. [6680/20]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

1185. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will put in place a short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency in view of her responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6733/20]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

1186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6736/20]

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Martin Browne

Question:

1188. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will put in place a short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency in view of the fact she has lead responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. [6828/20]

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Martin Browne

Question:

1189. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if short-term emergency rent supplement will be progressed which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months and or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6829/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1190. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person or body that has lead responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and if she has considered the provision of a short-term emergency rent supplement payment to enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6867/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1191. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to a statement by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 30 April 2020, if she will progress short-term emergency rent supplement to enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence access safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6868/20]

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Cathal Crowe

Question:

1251. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement will be reconsidered which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of Covid-19 national emergency. [6313/20]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

1277. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation as a result of domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency. [6678/20]

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Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

1279. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement which would enable men, women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6727/20]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

1281. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6735/20]

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Martin Browne

Question:

1283. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to facilitate access to the emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6827/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1286. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to provide a Covid-19 domestic violence emergency rent supplement payment to enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6861/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1179, 1180, 1183 to 1186, inclusive, 1188 to 1191, inclusive, 1251, 1277, 1279, 1281, 1283 and 1286 together.

Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The co-ordination of the services addressing the needs of these customers is managed by The Child and Family Agency, Tusla. Victims of domestic violence accommodation needs are met through this joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide.

A housing authority can provide, on a humanitarian basis, short-term emergency housing to persons who are unable to return to their homes because of domestic violence without having to assess their eligibility for social housing support or include them on the authority’s waiting list for housing supports.

Generally, where a victim is not seeking to return to the family home, a social housing assessment by the housing authority is the appropriate response. Assessments should be conducted in a timely manner to ensure that victims do not end up residing in emergency accommodation, including refuge facilities, for long periods of time. Once a customer has successfully completed a housing needs assessment, they can then apply for HAP.

As part of this response, Tusla funds and supports over 40 organisations providing support services to victims of domestic violence, including 20 refuges providing safe specialist emergency domestic violence accommodation. Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services, and in particular, Domestic Violence refuges have been identified as one of Tusla’s three highest priority services in its crisis management responses to the period of Covid-19 public health measures. A range of supports have been put in place to assure continuity of essential services and there is ongoing systematic engagement between Tusla and service provider organisations around emerging needs.

Since the introduction of HAP, Rent Supplement continues to revert to original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment. Rent supplement, by virtue of its short-term nature and its targeted customer cohort, is not considered the principal solution in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing domestic or sexual violence, in particular where, following a Housing Needs Assessment, HAP is an available option.

There are no indications within my department that the rent supplement scheme is operating in a way that is preventing victims of domestic violence from getting the support they need, and Community Welfare Officers are using the full flexibility of the scheme to assist those in need during the current crisis.

Notwithstanding the above, my department does provide support to customers of domestic violence. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (SWA), Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) / Urgent Needs Payments (UNP) are available to meet essential once-off cost for customers who are unable to meet these out of their own resources. Where a person’s safety and well-being are at risk due to domestic violence, department officials operating SWA have discretionary powers to provide ENPs / UNPs to address the person’s immediate needs. It is expected that whilst the Department is providing support, the person concerned can transition safely to the relevant agencies and supports that provide the tailored support that they require.

Officials in my Department continue to liaise with their colleagues in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs / Tusla, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government to ensure that victims of domestic violence have appropriate supports including access to local authority sponsored housing via HAP.

Should the Deputy have a particular case in mind I would ask him/her to share the details with me and I will have it assessed without delay.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

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