Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

We will not delay them too long. I thank the Cathaoirleach's team for facilitating this. I thank Senator Stephenson, the Civil Engagement Group and Senators O'Loughlin and Rabbitte for their work on this since last October. I hope it shows that the Seanad is not all about big speeches and grandiose speeches. I thank everybody for liaising with my adviser, Craig Dwyer; with officials in my Department; and, most importantly, with groups in this area to try to get a response as quickly as possible to Senator Stephenson's Bill.
The House will be aware that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a major priority. The programme for Government includes a number of commitments in this regard. While many of those commitments fall under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, this is an issue that requires not just a whole-of-government approach, but a whole-of-Oireachtas approach. To this end, since October we have engaged with the Senators, but also with Cuan, Women's Aid, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Safe Ireland to identify the issues faced in relation to travel and to develop solutions for domestic violence victims with travel costs. It has been agreed that a protocol, mirroring the one in place for domestic violence rent supplement, should be developed to support victims of domestic violence. Accordingly, we are introducing the domestic violence travel supplement in agreement with the representative groups.
As already agreed in the case of the domestic violence rent supplement, a person who is fleeing domestic violence will not have to satisfy a means test, nor will their employment status or participation in education be taken into account when determining their entitlement to this supplement, and neither will they be required to be in receipt of a social protection payment. These conditions, which typically apply in the case of travel supplement payments, will not apply for an initial three-month period. This will not only broaden entitlement to the payment, as requested by the Senators and the advocacy groups, but it will also significantly reduce the need for applicants to provide documentary evidence of their means and their status. We know that providing such evidence is incredibly difficult for a person who may depend on a partner or former partner, who has subjected them to violence, and does not wish to have contact with that person.
The value of the supplement paid to an individual will vary on a case-by-case basis. It is important that rather than setting a standard rate, we are flexible and we build the support around the need of the individual, taking into account, for example, the number of children they may have to support, the number of journeys they may have to make, the distances they have to travel and the modes of transport they have to use. These issues were highlighted on the evening of the debate on the Bill in October. Our community welfare officers have a great deal of experience in responding to these types of difficult situations. They will be flexible in ensuring that a person is not left without the support they need. While the payments will be administered by community welfare officers, confirmation will be required to process the claim, such as a referral from a Cuan-funded service provider, a copy of a court order or written evidence from a member of An Garda Síochána or a healthcare professional. After the first three months have passed, a person may be provided with a further three-month extension of the supplement. However, at that stage, payment will be subject to the usual means assessment alongside a review of a person's eligibility. I have asked my officials to ensure this supplement is available as soon as possible.
It will be in place from 5 May. I thank Senator Stephenson and her colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group, as well as Senators O’Loughlin and Rabbitte, for their ongoing engagement over the past six months. I look forward to working further on this agenda because we have so much work to do in this space.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28