Emer Higgins
Question:33. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Taoiseach the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023. [54072/23]
View answerWednesday, 6 December 2023
Questions (33)
Written answers
During 2023, the Department of the Taoiseach has been working with Government Departments to progress work across a number of priority areas as follows:
· progress on the Housing for All Action Plan, with strong momentum in new homes this year with over 22,400 completed in the first three quarters and construction started on almost 24,000 more;
· three progress reports produced under Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) showing an overall implementation rate of 67% on CAP23 to date;
· mobilising the cross-Government humanitarian response, with Ireland hosting over 100,000 people who have fled Ukraine since the invasion;
· the new Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office published its first Programme Plan in August and more recently a report setting out new measures in Budget 2024 to reduce child poverty and promote well-being;
· implementing policies targeting sustainable economic recovery, investment and job creation including the new national digital strategy and providing a comprehensive Cost-of-Living package to help families;
· comprehensive programme of dialogues and research by the Shared Island Unit underpinned by the Shared Island Fund;
· the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use and the Final Report which is due by the end of the year;
· advancing Ireland’s role in Europe and the world, with continued engagement at EU and international level on the situation in the Middle East;
· continued engagement with the main political parties in Northern Ireland and the UK Government on the return of a functioning Assembly and Executive and delivery of the 40th British-Irish Council Summit at Dublin Castle;
· continued cross-Government focus on integrating the Well-being Framework into policymaking and expenditure decisions;
· continued work across the Department in a range of areas, including policing reform and community safety, supporting the work of the North East Inner City Initiative, Civil Service Renewal and three legislation programmes published to progress 128 priority bills during 2023.