An initiative by Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson, which will result in free travel for three months for those fleeing domestic violence, is to be introduced as a standalone scheme by Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary.<\/p>\n
Senator Stephenson said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis proposal, which has received broad cross-party support, was introduced last October as my very first bill in the Seanad. Now, in a small but significant win for survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), the minister and his department are set to take my idea forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMinister Calleary will bring the proposal to Cabinet for sign-off this morning before joining me in the Seanad later today to announce details of the scheme, which will come into effect on May 5.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom next week, women fleeing their abuser, along with their children, will be granted a non-means tested travel supplement for three months. The scheme will be administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs), with referrals made by domestic violence agencies operating under Cuan \u2013 the DSGBV agency \u2013 including women’s refuges. Referrals can also be made by garda\u00ed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be an option to extend the scheme after three months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount paid will be based on individual needs, taking into account factors such as location and the number of children involved. The travel scheme will be modelled on the domestic violence rent supplement, and paid via bank transfer or cheque if the survivor does not have access to an account \u2013 which is not uncommon when a woman has experienced financial abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cFree travel might sound like a small thing, but it can mean the world to someone starting again after suffering violence, coercive control or psychological abuse. It can help survivors, and their children, get safely to a refuge, to school, to work to counselling or to a solicitor\u2019s office. It can mean reconnecting with family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis initiative is not about charity \u2013 it\u2019s about dignity. It\u2019s about recognising that mobility is safety, and that public services should not stop at the front door of the home, especially when that home has become a place of harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
April 28, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An initiative by Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson, which will result in free travel for three months for those fleeing domestic violence, is to be introduced as a standalone scheme by Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary. Senator Stephenson said: \u201cThis proposal, which has received broad cross-party support, was introduced last October as my very first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[776,837,641,7,721,547],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domestic-abuse","category-dsgbv","category-patricia-stephenson","category-press-release","category-social-protection","category-transport"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n