Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a detailed update on the progress made on implementing the recommendations of the scoping report into community safety and well-being in Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16068/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Following the appalling murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda in January 2020, the Government responded immediately with additional 30 gardaí for Drogheda. Under Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan, enormous progress has been made in bringing people to justice. At the same time, a report was commissioned to improve community well-being through action and investment in areas of poverty and particularly where drug abuse is prevalent in our town. I ask the Minister to give an update on the 73 recommendations contained in that report.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The proactive focus and innovative listening approach of the Minister and the Department of Justice are very welcome in Drogheda. She has made personal visits to meet community activists and officials from different State bodies and local government. There is credibility in the Government's response, which is working. Michael Keogh, the chairman of the implementation board, Martin O'Brien of the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan are doing fantastic work.

An issue has arisen with one of the recommendations. The Garda Commissioner has agreed to review the Garda subdistrict boundary line between Drogheda and Laytown. I acknowledge that is a reserved function of the Garda Commissioner. Would it be possible to get an update from him on the progress on that to date?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I also acknowledge the people who are working, not just those on the board but also the community members. If we are to make the progress we need, it is important that everybody comes together and works together, as has happened to date. I thank everyone for their co-operation and their collaborative approach.

Resourcing is one element. The Deputy has rightly mentioned the possible boundary change. I am aware that the Garda Commissioner has engaged with the Deputy and indicated that this is the direction he might like to take. However, it needs to be confirmed and agreed. I am sure that will happen in due course. I will, of course, ask the Garda Commissioner to update the Deputy and his colleagues as quickly as possible as soon as that decision is fully agreed.

While we have implemented a number of the recommendations, we need to continue in the same vein. Obviously, it is not just about the Department of Justice, the Garda Commissioner and his team. As the Deputy mentioned we have seen a significant increase in the Garda presence in the Louth district in recent years.

However, this is about education, health, community and the various different infrastructural projects. We are working extremely hard with the Departments to make sure that issues which have arisen can be resolved. Obviously, the resources that are needed can be provided.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that it is not the Minister's decision. As I understand it, the Garda Commissioner has committed to that review and, as the Minister said, we will get a report from him on it.

I want to raise two other two issues. First, in regard to schools, I welcome the support of the Department of Justice in progressing the issue. There was a recommendation and a belief that three schools – St. Brigid's, St. Patrick's and St. Joseph’s national schools - would be moved from DEIS band 2 to DEIS band 1 but that is under appeal. I appreciate that this does not come under the remit of the Minister for Justice but I would appreciate any help she can give on that. She has made progress on it today in terms of an email from her office to help on that.

The second issue relates to the HSE, which carried out a review of addiction services in Louth and Meath that was finished in 2020. Guess what? It will not give me a copy of the review and will not publish it. When I make a freedom of information request, what happens? It will not even answer. The HSE will not answer a freedom of information request in respect of a review of addiction services in Louth and Meath. That is disgraceful and unacceptable. It is not the Minister's responsibility, but it is my job to make sure the review is published. I have to raise the matter here in the Dáil. What is happening is embarrassing, particularly in view of the context of the drug problem in the Louth and Meath area.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy said, the two issues he raised relate to various other Departments. At the same time, my Department has taken responsibility for leading in the response to and the implementation of this report. We are engaging on a regular basis with the Departments of Education and Health and the HSE, to make sure that we can follow through and implement the recommendations that are set out.

In acknowledgement of the specific recommendation around the DEIS status of the schools, where further progress and work needs to happen and engagement needs to happen with the Department of Education, the fact that additional supports have been provided in the interim is an acknowledgement that these resources are needed. We will continue to engage with the Department of Education on that specific recommendation.

On health, what is really important is that we engage with the Department of Health and the HSE, and that we specifically look at the recommendations that fall under their remit, and specifically look at the needs, the requirements and the wants in this space, and then work collaboratively to make sure we can implement them as quickly as possible.