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

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 10 go 22 le chéile.

The priorities set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 reflect the role of the Department to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland's interests abroad, to implement the Government's programme and to build a better future for Ireland and all its citizens. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Department of the Taoiseach is currently developing its new statement of strategy for the three-year period from 2023 to 2025. This will reflect the central role of the Department in advancing national whole-of-government priorities over the coming period.

On housing, we will drive the implementation of Housing for All and seek to reverse the trend of rising homelessness and falling home ownership. I know that many of our citizens are still struggling with the cost of living across many facets of their lives and the Government is implementing a range of measures to improve that or to at least ameliorate it. We must ensure the best start in life for every child. With this aim in mind, preparations are under way to establish a new unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, before the end of March, tasked with reducing child poverty and improving well-being with a strong co-ordination and leadership role across Government.

Climate change is the most pressing long-term global challenge of our time and Ireland is facing up to that challenge. We have set the ambition to become energy independent by harnessing our untapped renewable energy resources and will continue to progress and develop capacity across Government on climate action. Another ambition is to build safer communities and streets and to improve our national security. We will build on the work under way to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour. We will provide additional resources to An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the Prison Service and the court system, as well as passing new laws to ensure we apprehend criminals and deal with them appropriately.

Working with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we will work to re-establish the Good Friday Agreement institutions in the North.

We will also ensure balanced regional development, be it through the national broadband plan, the regeneration of our rural communities or by ensuring a better future for those involved in farming and fishing. We will continue to adopt a town-and-village-first approach.

Cross-government work will continue to source the accommodation and other requirements for the high numbers of people seeking protection from the war in Ukraine and elsewhere. The Government has recently agreed the establishment of ten Cabinet committees to reflect these cross-government priorities, which the Government will continue to advance during its lifetime. The Department will also provide progress reports under the strategic priorities set out in the statement of strategy through the normal annual reporting cycle. The Department's annual report for 2022 will be published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming months.

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