Mr. Ben Ryan:

I will start with the Greentown programme because the Senator referred to that and the adequacy or otherwise of having two trial sites. We have to test the model as it is very innovative. It was developed by us in conjunction with the University of Limerick. It is not based on a specific programme that had happened anywhere else. It has been recognised internationally as being really innovative. However, an innovative programme has to be tested so that is why we have been testing it in two locations. The intention is to be able to adapt it and use it in other locations as well. Learning has been gathered from the operation to date. We have extended it for another three years. The outcome we hope to achieve after this time is to identify where and how it can be adapted for more mainstream use. The intention is to expand beyond the two trial sites to wherever it is needed. This type of intensive programme is not needed everywhere. There are certain parts of the country where it is more necessary because organised criminal gangs are more embedded. The Senator referred to her own area as one such area. There are already a lot of programmes in that area but this something that could be considered for those areas in the future.

Regarding the community efficacy pillar I mentioned and the resources that will be required to build capacity, again in partnership with the REPPP team and the University of Limerick, a local leadership programme has been developed. It has been drawn down by some of our community safety partnerships that we have piloted in three locations, Longford, Waterford and north inner city Dublin with a view to a national roll-out later this year. The three partnerships have worked very effectively. One of the areas identified by the partnerships - Longford was the first to do this - to try to support communities that want to equip themselves better to be able to deal with organised criminality in their areas is to build up the leadership capacity for local residents and activists who are involved in community-based organisations. It ensures they have the skills and capability to be able to interact effectively, either through structures like community-safety partnerships or just generally within their communities. We have heard back from Longford that it has been really beneficial to those involved.

The north inner city Dublin local community safety partnership is also exploring whether it can utilise the local leadership programme. Funding has been made available to Longford to do that and if the north inner city Dublin local community safety partnership expresses an interest and makes an application to draw down the local leadership programme, which has been piloted by the University of Limerick, we would certainly be interested in that.

There are programmes to try to assist communities in these kinds of situations. The Department of Justice also work very closely with the HSE on the drug-related intimidation and violence programme as well to try to combat drug debt intimidation and related actions that go with that. An Garda Síochána is central to the actions on that. In north inner city Dublin, the drug-related intimidation and associated violence, DRIVE, programme is working well and a co-ordinator has been embedded there. It is a very challenging issue to try to combat because people find it difficult to come forward given the level of pressure and intimidation placed on then. There are drug-related intimidation and violence inspectors in every area in An Garda Síochána around the country as well and they are trying to embed themselves into communities so people within communities can approach them confidentially and with confidence to try to tackle the issue of drug-related intimidation. I have covered the specific points but am happy to come back to give more detail if needed.