Rent supplement in domestic violence cases important, but shelters must also be provided – Ward

Welcoming the continuation of automatic access to rent supplement for the victims of domestic violence, confirmed today by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward has also called for the provision of a domestic violence shelter in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Senator Ward said: “The confirmation of the continuation of automatic access to rent supplement in domestic violence cases important, but shelters must also be provided.

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is the only local authority area in Ireland that doesn’t have a domestic violence refuge, even though we have been calling for it since I first started in elected politics in 2009.

“It is particularly perverse that this remains the case in Dún Laoghaire, where residential property prices are at their highest nationally and it is so much harder for victims to get alternative accommodation when they need to.

“I have previously raised this huge gap in the provision of services with Minister Roderic O’Gorman and it is time we took action to provide for the safety and security of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown residents as we do throughout the country.

“We also know that this is happening at a time when Safe Ireland tells us that seven women/families are being turned away from domestic violence refuges every day.

“We must prioritise the increased provision of refuges as a matter of urgency”, Senator Ward concluded.