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Housing Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2021

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Questions (114)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

114. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Guidance for Housing Authorities for Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence with Emergency and Long-Term Accommodation Needs 2017 circular is still his Department’s leading policy on the matter; his plans to update it or put it on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47047/21]

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Written answers

Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

In terms of housing services, 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 guidance is also a useful reference for service providers, covering a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports.  These include provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support. 

The guidance was introduced with the objective of supporting a partnership approach by statutory agencies in respect of the delivery of domestic violence services, particularly in relation to helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating the provision of long term accommodation for victims of domestic violence.  This guidance continues to apply in providing direction to housing authorities in supporting the housing needs of victims of domestic violence.

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