Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
23. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a detailed update on the progress made with respect to the Drogheda implementation report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52170/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraClear actions and timelines regarding the Drogheda Implementation Plan are included in the Justice Plan 2022, which reflects the Government’s commitment to put a special focus on Drogheda. As the Deputy may be aware, in 2021 my Department published a report I had commissioned from the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations on short and long-term responses to challenges the community faces in Drogheda.
The report explored the challenges on the ground as well as local strengths and resources. It also identified measures that could support community safety and chart a path to improved community wellbeing in and around Drogheda.
In July of last year, Minister Humphreys obtained Government approval for an Implementation Plan for the report. The Government also committed to a special focus on Drogheda, including Departments and State agencies prioritising necessary funding applications for projects related to the Drogheda Implementation Plan.The Implementation Plan identifies the relevant stakeholders for each recommendation and outlines the next steps for engagement and delivery. The Plan is a living document and will be reviewed by my Department each quarter, with progress reports produced twice yearly. The first progress report of the Drogheda Implementation Plan, combining updates from Q1 and Q2 2022, is currently under development and will be published in the coming weeks.
The most important aspect of the Plan is at local level where the Drogheda Implementation Board is the core driver and co-ordinator of the activities outlined in the plan, with my Department providing national oversight to ensure strategic direction, action planning and the delivery of the Drogheda Implementation Plan through the Drogheda Oversight Board, which has met twice to date.
The first meeting of the Drogheda Implementation Board took place on 13 October 2021 and a number of positive actions have arisen from the plan to date. For example:
- The Department of Education has provided additional supports to the three Northside schools identified in the report for a five year period.
- My own Department and the HSE have provided further funding to the Red Door Project to ensure the continued provision of their important services. In total across 2021 and 2022, this represents an investment of €230,000 in staffing resources to provide additional services in the Drogheda area.
- Funding was provided to the Moneymore Consortium to support their planning work for the proposed development of a community hub facility and to the Moneymore Childcare Centre to ensure the continuation of the essential meal service they provide to children.
- My Department secured a further €250,000 in Dormant Accounts Funding for continued implementation of targeted crime prevention and harm-reduction measures in Drogheda in 2022.
- My Department announced additional Youth Diversion Funding of almost €75,000 for early intervention and family supports to the Boyne Project.
- Drogheda based projects the Red Door Project (€98,014) and Foróige (€150,000) also received funding under the Community Safety Innovation Fund announced this week.
- The Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris recently announced funding for a new craft skills training hub in Drogheda which will provide training to approximately 336 apprentices each year.
Further details on the progress to date will be available in the upcoming progress report.
