Photograph: Derick Hudson/Getty Images“Complex” issues around constitutional property rights could complicate Government plans that would allow for the removal of domestic abusers from family homes in high-risk cases. A view has emerged within the Government that the number of people made homeless by domestic violence may be understated in official figures. Domestic abuse has been recorded as a cause of homelessness in official statistics since the start of last year. Some women and children are living long term in domestic abuse refuges as they have nowhere else to move on to because of the housing crisis. The department confirmed it was considering new removal orders for abusers, which would be similar to the domestic abuse protection order (DPO) in the UK.

Source: The Irish Times November 17, 2025 14:39 UTC