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

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. The Deputies opposite make a valid point as regards the need to review what has been done to date. It is important that we measure progress. It is not always straightforward to measure progress in such areas, but it is important that we try to do so because what we do not measure we cannot really improve.

By doing so, we can try to figure out what works and what does not. To be honest, more resources and staff and greater Government intervention do not always work. When they do not, we should be frank about it and decide whether it needs to be discontinued or changed in some way and if it is working, whether it needs to be enhanced an increased. Regarding the drugs and alcohol and task force, I hear what Deputy McDonald said and will come back to her about that matter.

On the wider issue of local areas initiatives pursued by the Government, it is intended that the initiative will take in other local areas to establish the best way to consolidate the numerous interventions under way in these areas and make sure they are responsive to the real needs of local communities. It is also intended that the approach will be progressed in different settings to ensure it is sensitive to and learns from different challenges and issues experienced in local areas and communities. With this in mind, it is envisioned that the initiative will be located in urban, rural and suburban settings, all of which have distinct populations and problems. Every area is different. Discussions are ongoing with several local authorities and the Central Statistics Office about how best to identify local areas with available data sets that can be analysed. I expect that this work will be completed in the near future and the local area programme board will then be in a position to judge the alignment of intervention with local issues.

Deputies will be aware of what is already happening in Drogheda and Cherry Orchard. Other areas being examined are Finglas and Ballymun, which Deputy McAuliffe raised. Other areas, for example, Mulhuddart, Corduff and Ladyswell, which people will understand I have an interest in, and places outside of Dublin, for example, Mahon in County Cork and Rathkeale in County Limerick are also being looked at. The list I have given is not exhaustive.

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