Mary Lou McDonald
Question:10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the north east inner city initiative. [4086/23]
View answerTuesday, 14 February 2023
Questions (10, 11, 12)
Ivana Bacik
Question:11. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the north east inner city initiative. [5720/23]
View answer
Gary Gannon
Question:12. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the north east inner city task force. [5887/23]
View answerOral answers (29 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together.
The Mulvey report, Dublin's North East Inner City: Creating a Brighter Future, which was published in February 2017, contains recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north-east inner city. The report has been further supplemented by the north east inner city strategic plan 2020-2023. Implementation of the Mulvey report and the strategic plan is overseen and progressed by the programme implementation board. The board meets on a monthly basis and its members include representatives from relevant Government Departments and agencies, business and the local community. The board is assisted in its work by six subgroups comprised of Departments and agencies, and community representatives. These subgroups look at enhanced policing; maximising educational, training and employment opportunities; family well-being; enhancing community well-being and the physical landscape; substance use, misuse and inclusion health; and the alignment of services.
Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach work closely with the board, the subgroups and the dedicated programme office based on Sean McDermott Street. The chairperson of the programme implementation board reports to an oversight group, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach. Membership of the oversight group is comprised of senior civil servants across Government Departments and agencies who are actively engaged with the work of the north east inner city initiative. This group ensures strong and active participation by all relevant Departments and agencies and deals with any barriers or issues highlighted by the board. Following the recent resignation of the chairperson of the board, arrangements will be made for the appointment of a new chairperson and I will advise the Government of a nominee in due course. In the interim, the work of the board will continue with the aid of the Department of the Taoiseach. The Government is committed to ensuring that the programme implementation board has the necessary resources to achieve its targets and fulfil its ambition. From 2016 to 2022, inclusive, the Government provided over €38.2 million in funding for the initiative. In 2022, funding was increased by €1 million to provide €7.5 million for the initiative and the Government has committed a further €7.5 million for this year.
I have raised the need to review this initiative with the Taoiseach's predecessor, the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, and I raise it again with the Taoiseach at this juncture. We need to assess in real terms what progress has been made. The review needs to also include the need to expand the boundaries of this initiative because only one section of the north inner city is actually covered. Other areas which have been just as affected by poverty, drugs and the whole gangland phenomenon have been left outside of its scope. This has caused a real problem right across communities. I argued back in the day that all of the north inner city needed to be included. I believe that remains the case. I hope a proper thorough and independent review of the initiative will occur. The north inner city community coalition, a very broad-based coalition, has, I understand, written to the Taoiseach. It wants to meet him to talk about the appointment of a new independent chairperson. It is important that the chairperson is independent. I understand the Taoiseach has not yet undertaken to meet this group. Will he meet it?
The north east inner city has no drugs task force.
We are way over time.
I raised this with the Taoiseach and put the question. I want to make the point on behalf of the community I serve.
There will not be enough time.
If you let me finish my sentence-----
No, we are way over time. I am really sorry. We are way over time.
The north inner city has no drugs-----
Deputy, please. I have no choice but to enforce the rules.
No, you have-----
I have gone way over with you. Please. There are four more contributors and there is a whole list to be done before 4 o'clock. I call Deputy Bacik.
The north inner city-----
Deputy please.
-----has no drugs and alcohol task force.
Deputy please.
I raised this matter with the Taoiseach and I would like to know what progress he has made on it. I am now finished my sentence and I am now sitting down.
It is most unacceptable from you. It is absolutely unacceptable. I have gone way over the time. Just a tiny bit of-----
I have placed my question.
I am not having a discussion with you. I am trying desperately to be fair.
You are not being fair.
I ask you to take that back.
That you are being unfair?
That is right.
I take it back. When I put my questions I am entitled to put them and to get an answer.
You are still wasting time. I will reflect for a moment. The more this happens, the less time there is available. I ask you all for co-operation. Every Deputy is important and every question he or she raises is important. We have now four minutes and 46 seconds to get the Taoiseach to respond and each Member has to come in.
I have two specific questions. Has the Taoiseach decided who will take over as chair of the north east inner city programme implementation board since the resignation of Michael Stone? He said he will announce the nominee in due course. Can he give us a timeline and some indication as to who it will be?
I would also like to raise an issue with the Taoiseach on behalf of my Labour Party colleague in Dublin Central, Senator Marie Sherlock. She has asked what the Government is planning to do about the severe shortages of preschool and early years places in the area. Research undertaken by Young People at Risk, YPAR, a group of childcare professionals, community groups and others under the auspices of the north east inner city task force, has found that one in four children in the north east inner city have no preschool place. Can the Taoiseach indicate what money will be put in place for the area to deliver new childcare and early years places?
I believe we are now six years into the north east inner city task force following the Mulvey report and €38 million has been spent. Where is the record of achievement? Deputy McDonald asked for a review. I would like a review. The Taoiseach may remember that the reason the north east inner city task force was initiated to combat drug related crime, poverty and dereliction in the area. Six years later and with €38 million spent, what can be pointed to as a record of achievement? Young people are still being taken into the drugs industry - and it is an industry - not only in the north inner city but throughout Dublin. Dereliction remains a problem in the area. The boundaries are rather obscure. Last year, we had a conversation about O'Connell Street, which does not come under the north inner city committee's remit, which seems strange. Hardwicke Street, an area just outside the catchment, does not receive the same level of funding as the north inner city task force. The independence of the chair is an issue of utmost importance. There was an expectation that the Taoiseach would announce a process for the selection of a chair, in consultation with the community.
Last week, the Taoiseach, in responding to Deputies Barry and Pringle, suggested that those who are pointing to the need to address the housing crisis were in some way giving succour to the far right. They were not; both Deputies were very clear about their position that refugees are welcome in this country. Does the Taoiseach accept that it is the case that where there is deprivation, neglected communities, a deep housing crisis with multiple generations living in one home and so on, it breeds alienation and is fuel for the likes of the far right to take people's righteous anger and turn it in the wrong direction? That is not to justify or excuse in any sense any racist or anti-refugee sentiments and so on. Rather, it is simply the reality that the likes of the far right prey on real social issues but then points people away from those responsible, that is, those at the top, towards those at the bottom.
I thank Deputies for their questions. Regarding the programme implementation board and the appointment of a new chair, no decision has yet been made on the appointment of a chair but I would very much welcome any suggestions or nominations that Members may have, perhaps on a confidential basis. It can be difficult to approach people for these roles. The enthusiasm for taking on this kind of work is not what it used to be for all sorts of obvious reasons, but any suggestions from Deputies would be dealt with confidentially and welcomed.
I reiterate that the Government is fully committed to the important work that has been under way in Dublin's north east inner city to oversee the long-term social and economic regeneration of the area. The north east inner city programme implementation board and subgroups, established following the publication of the Mulvey report and which comprise Government Departments and agencies alongside community representatives, will continue this work and ensure sustained momentum for the many initiatives being driven under the board's programme of work. Arrangements will be made for the appointment of a new chairperson for the implementation board. As I mentioned, I will advise the Government of a nominee in due course. In the interim, the work of the board will continue with the assistance of the Department.
Regarding the letter to which Deputy McDonald referred, I have not yet seen it. I am sure the Deputy's inbox is as big as mine and on any given day, I could receive 100 emails and letters, if not more, coupled with requests for meetings. They will all be responded to as soon as we can get to them.
I was asked about childcare and school provision. The early learning and care component of the Sheriff Street crèche and after-school education support programme, formerly on Sheriff Street, closed after the landlord informed the service in May 2020 that the lease of the premises would not be renewed after 30 June. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is looking at the wider implications for capacity in the area. However, affordable alternative premises have proved difficult to secure. Several options have been explored by the service but were found to be unsuitable in terms of size and affordability. The Dublin city childcare committee, in consultation with other stakeholders, is continuing to consider options in the area to minimise the risk that local families will not be able to secure appropriate early learning and care placements, should the need arise.