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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Ceisteanna (120)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

120. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are in place to assist victims of domestic violence to access rent supplement; the number accessing the supplement; the number of refusals; the number applying for associated supports under the supplementary welfare supports by county to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24673/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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 response to the pandemic, I was pleased to announce in November last year that the measure has been made a permanent feature of the Rent Supplement Scheme, recognising that the underlying rationale for this support will be required long after the impact of the pandemic has receded.

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

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on payments and supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. Statistics are not maintained on the number of applications for additional supports relating directly to victims of domestic violence.

There are 45 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with 214 cases supported since the Protocol came into operation in August 2020. There have been no refusals to date.

Table 1 shows the number accessing support by county to date and the current recipients by county.

Table 1 - The number accessing support by county to date and the current recipients by county.

County

Number of Beneficiaries (August 2020 to date)

Number of Current Recipients

Carlow

7

2

Cavan

4

1

Clare

10

2

Cork

35

9

Donegal

6

2

Dublin

30

7

Galway

19

2

Kerry

8

3

Kildare

4

2

Kilkenny

2

1

Laois

5

0

Leitrim

1

0

Limerick

3

1

Longford

6

0

Louth

4

1

Mayo

11

0

Meath

1

1

Monaghan

3

0

Offaly

10

0

Roscommon

10

2

Sligo

8

1

Tipperary

11

5

Waterford

5

2

Wexford

6

0

Wicklow

5

1

Total

214

45

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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