Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to point out some of the key actions that are included in the report, including the refurbishment and reopening of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, which will become a centre for community policing and local drug enforcement. There will be an increase in the level of local gardaí in the community. A new policing plan will be drawn up. A single platform will be introduced to streamline education, training and employment activation efforts. A skills need assessment will inform the training requirements and job and apprenticeship opportunities in the area. A specialist hub will be developed for highly vulnerable families. A new model of in-school speech and language therapy will be piloted. A single youth leadership development programme will be provided. There will be a comprehensive physical refurbishment plan for the area. Some very significant things are under way. There will be some community consultative events, with the first meeting to be held on 19 October. As I have mentioned, Michael Stone has been appointed as the independent chair of the local programme implementation board, which has already met on three occasions, on 28 June, 2 August and 30 August. It is scheduled to meet again this week. As I have said, a community consultative event will be held in October.

Deputy McDonald is right when she says that bunching crime and drugs together is wrong-headed. Addiction, as opposed to recreational drug use, is very much a social issue. I would rather see it addressed as a health issue than as a criminal justice issue. Like a number of people in this Chamber, I know the north inner city very well not because of my happy visits there in recent weeks, but because of my regular visits there all the time. I know because I am there all the time that it is an area where many good things are happening. I am disappointed that nobody mentioned any of them, so I might mention a few now. The student accommodation that is coming on stream across the north inner city is a very positive thing.

See this speech in context