Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I acknowledge his contribution and commitment to the implementation of this strategy. I also acknowledge the community in Drogheda. As the Deputy will be aware, the implementation of the recommendations of the report are key actions in my Department's justice plan, which was published this week.

I am grateful to the former director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations in his scoping report on short- and long-term responses to challenges the community in Drogheda faces. While some issues have been ongoing for some time, this obviously came to a head with the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods. These include measures relating to crime prevention, youth services, drug addiction, education, infrastructure, community development and much more. This requires a whole-of-society response, involving Government, State agencies and the local community. The recommendations highlight the need for improved inter-agency co-operation in the administration and delivery of State services in Drogheda, as well as the need to provide additional resources and services in certain areas.

In July of last year, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, who was standing in as Minister for Justice, 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.

There have already been some very positive actions arising from the plan. The Department of Education has provided supports to the three schools identified in the report and my Department has provided further funding to the Red Door Project to ensure the continued provision of its important services. Funding has also been committed to the Moneymore consortium to support its 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 it provides to children. We have also secured a further €250,000 in dormant accounts funding for continued implementation of targeted crime prevention and harm reduction measures in Drogheda in 2022.

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