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

Everybody has been offered the opportunity to engage with this. It is very important that the community are empowered through the partnerships to identify what they need. Many of these actions have been implemented, many have been supported with funding and many are seed projects that will then lead on to something more substantial. However, it is very important that as the initial three pilots were assessed and as we now roll them out, they have full buy-in and support from everybody in the community, including our public representatives. It does not just happen overnight. Dealing with issues of safety and longer-term issues of dealing with addiction, resourcing and investment in communities take time. That is exactly what the plan’s objective is.

See this speech in context