Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach to provide a report on the task force for Dublin city centre that he announced on 9 May 2024. [22005/24]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach to provide a report on the task force for Dublin city centre that he announced on 9 May 2024. [22006/24]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach what level of engagement his Department will have with the Dublin city centre task force. [22484/24]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach the level of engagement his Department will have with the Dublin city centre task force [22758/24]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach what level of engagement his Department will have with the Dublin city centre task force. [23877/24]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach the level of engagement his Department will have with the Dublin city centre task force. [24003/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 16, inclusive, together.

On 7 May 2024, the Government agreed to appoint a task force to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, north and south. The goal is to make Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive and safe cityscape, and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit.

The task force is taking an evidence-informed approach in its work and will provide recommendations to improve the city centre's public realm, safety and experience. It will harness efforts and initiatives under way, including within the Dublin city co-ordination office, as well as existing initiatives such as Dublin's north-east inner-city initiative and the Dublin north inner city local community safety partnership. The task force will not duplicate efforts already under way, which is important, but will instead consider what additional co-ordinated activities could galvanise actions to return Dublin's city centre to the vibrant destination we know it to be and deliver on a shared vision of central Dublin's public space.

The task force is led by an independent chair, Mr. David McRedmond, chief executive officer of An Post, who brings his wealth of insights and experience to the role. Membership of the task force includes representatives from the public service, including An Garda Síochána, the local authority and the National Transport Authority, representatives of city centre businesses, a trade union representative, and representatives from the community and service provider sector and the cultural and arts sector. The task force is being supported in its work by Dublin City Council, for which I acknowledge its chief executive, An Garda Síochána, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Justice. The Department of the Taoiseach will bring together a senior officials group as required by the task force to inform the work.

The first meeting of the task force took place on Tuesday, 21 May 2024. It has been requested to deliver its recommendations for consideration by the Government within 12 weeks.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the establishment of the task force and commend Mr. David McRedmond for taking on this important role. However, I think he is going to have a very challenging task in terms of trying to change the status and make-up, and deal with the concerns that we all see when we travel through the city centre at present. I have no doubt Mr. McRedmond and the other people on his committee will be able to describe the problems that are present in Dublin city centre. Unfortunately, one of the consequences of Covid and the restrictions that were introduced appears to be that quality of life in the city centre has declined quite significantly.

What the Taoiseach will have to do when he gets the report, hopefully at some stage in mid-August, is give an indication as to how it is going to be implemented. I will give my own assessment of why there needs to be a strong implementation project in this respect. It is clear that we have decided, for very legitimate reasons, no doubt, that for many of the societal problems that exist in Dublin at present, whether it be homelessness, drug addiction or people seeking international protection, we have focused all of the services in the city centre. That puts an undue burden on the city centre. We need to recall that Dublin city centre is not like the city centre of London. Dublin city centre has a vibrant residential community. I represent a significant part of it in Dublin Bay South and colleagues in Dublin Central also represent that area. We need to recognise that if we want to alleviate some of the issues that are affecting the city centre, we will have to look at sharing out those services across the city and county in respect of people who are in need of these challenging and important services.

My big fear is that, otherwise, we are going to see a very divided city. Some parts of Dublin are excellent at present and are vibrant and thriving, but we can see that other parts have a very challenging and difficult environment. What we do not want to happen is that the city in some way becomes segregated or divided and there are parts that people just do not want to go to, whether they are tourists or people going out at night-time. That will be a central task, not just for Mr. McRedmond but for the implementation of his recommendations when they come.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I call Deputy O’Reilly for Deputy McDonald.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the establishment of the task force. If it is done right, it could represent an important marker in the development of the city. As our national capital, Dublin has a responsibility to serve as an example for the rest of the country and to be a safe, attractive, vibrant and flourishing city, one that cherishes and celebrates its past and fearlessly embraces the future and its potential. The new Dublin task force is the opportunity to foster and support appropriate and imaginative regeneration of the city but only if it is done right. The project is a valuable opportunity to create jobs, deliver new opportunities, foster social progress and grow the local economy and tourism sector.

I have four questions. When will the terms of reference be announced? What will be the geographical area covered by the task force? What financial and staffing resources will be allocated to its work? What mechanism of engagement will be employed to ensure all community voices can be heard? That last question raises an essential point. It is not enough that people will just have a chance to input once or twice. It needs to be a comprehensive strategy to ensure that all voices are being heard.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I call Deputy Murphy for Deputy Smith.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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Last week, during this session, I raised with the Taoiseach the arson attack on St. John's House, which was due to house families who are seeking international protection here, and the Taoiseach correctly condemned that. Unfortunately, there was another arson attack on the same building this morning, which is two arson attacks in a week. Last week, I raised with the Taoiseach the need for private security for these buildings to ensure they are not targeted because there is clearly an orchestrated campaign of terror to try to prevent us from taking and welcoming those who are seeking international protection. Clearly, there was some security because it emerged, for example, that there was a woman in the building last week, and it is thankful that the fire did not take off because she could have been killed, and that is obviously where this can go. The State needs to take this more seriously in terms of protecting these buildings.

It was also the scene of a quite horrendous incident - it is interesting that the far right chose to promote it - where a female Garda was called every possible thing under the sun, including some really disgusting, abusive stuff. I would say that the impact of people seeing that sort of language and abuse, and the violence of the arson attacks, has been to turn people in the area against the far right. Whenever there are these crazy rumours about 3,500 unvetted men, it is an attempt to create fear. When the truth gets out and it turns out to be 350 people, including families, who are seeking international protection, many people want to welcome them. However, people are also rightly horrified and repelled by the violence, the abuse and the misogyny represented by those who would just seek to divide, spread fear and tear down our communities.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Not a week goes by that a constituent of mine in the leafy suburbs of north Dublin does not mention the inner city and the issues and concerns they have with it. I would highlight, in particular, young women who have raised it with me as a concern in terms of their night-time plans and visiting and meeting with friends in the city centre, among other things. I know a lot has been done. I know 101 recently attested gardaí were assigned to Garda stations around Dublin in recent weeks but, as I am sure the Taoiseach can appreciate, there is no substitute for experienced members of An Garda Síochána being appropriately allocated to the appropriate stations in order to police our streets and make people feel safe on our streets.

Of course, that is not a means in and of itself. As the Taoiseach has highlighted, there must be a multi-agency approach to dereliction, drug addiction and the general demeanour of the community. To be fair, the city council is doing good work in that regard but it is not doing it fast enough. A number of streets in the north inner city should look so much better. We are one of the richest nations in the world and it is time that we showed it, in particular in Dublin 1, by caring for those who need our help the most and making sure the community in which they wish to live, and where they have been reared for generations, is appropriately supported by the Government and the agencies of the State.

I wanted to raise that point because while policing is fantastic, it is not the solution to every problem within these communities.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his comments on the task force and for welcoming it and welcoming the appointment of David McRedmond. I, too, thank Mr. McRedmond for the work he is doing. It is interesting that the Deputy mentioned the impact of Covid. He is correct that in looking to establish this task force, it was looking at examples of capital cities and the impact Covid has had on them. It is very real and it is an issue that many capital cities are trying to grapple with. I mentioned that to the chair when I appointed him. I agree with the Deputy that implementation will be key. One of the things I am asking the chair and the task force to do is to recommend, in their view, the appropriate implementation structure. I am absolutely sure we will get from them innovative thinking and I know Mr. McRedmond to be of that sort.

I have also asked that we get actions with clear owners of the actions. I do not say this to be confrontational. The new chief executive of Dublin City Council has really embraced this and I thank him for that. He sees the value in it. I have no doubt, however, that many of the actions that will flow from this will be for local government. Many will have a funding requirement from the national Government too, and we need, a little like with the Action Plan for Jobs and the likes back in the day, an action plan-type approach to implementation. My Department stands ready to help with any sort of implementation structure, senior officials group or the likes that need to be convened. I will keep Members informed and engage with them as we get towards that.

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for welcoming this and I take the point she makes. She is entirely right - "if it is done right". That is fair comment. I have seen the terms of reference. I do not seem to have them in front of me, but let me send them to the Deputy. My understanding was that they were being finalised. We are giving the group the flexibility to finalise them. My understanding is that the group had its first meeting on 21 May. It was an introductory online meeting but it is due to have a full-day session in An Post next Wednesday, 5 June. That will be the first substantive meeting.

Similarly, I discussed the geographical area with the chair. What is Dublin city centre? In my layman's speak, it is largely from just beyond O'Connell Street right down to Grafton Street and the streets off it. The group will clarify and speak to that because there is a view, and since we have established this, lots of other parts of Dublin have said, "We would like that too." One of the terms of reference is that if there are lessons from this, there is no reason this model could not be replicated in other places, but we have to start somewhere and have a clear, defined understanding of that.

As regards budget and staff, currently, the secretariat is being provided by Dublin City Council but also being supported by officials in my Department, with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána ready to assist as well. A budget will be required for this. Where that falls will depend on the actions, but I understand that my responsibility in setting this up will obviously mean that we will have to follow through in budget 2025.

On engagement, I know that is something the chair is very much thinking about as to how best to do it. It has to be real and meaningful. I also have to be honest. The group has been asked to do this in 12 weeks. What can you meaningfully do in 12 weeks? I think you can do a lot, but how do you use that time well? I know the chair and the group are very open to engaging with public representatives, and I might ask them to provide a briefing to representatives of the Dublin constituencies if that would be useful.

I am sorry. I am getting used to Taoiseach's Questions. I forgot about Deputy Murphy's and Deputy Farrell's questions. I join them in condemning the arson attack and I am very frustrated and disappointed to hear of another one. I am interested in what Deputy Murphy said because it is my experience as well across the country that communities are calling out and very much rightly distancing themselves with great vigour from the disgusting actions of a few. In fact, I was recently in a community where decent, legitimate people who were not racist or anything else had questions they wanted to ask the Government about what was happening in their town, and as soon as they saw the far right try to hijack it, they called off any form of meeting or engagement because they did not want to be used as pawns by the far right. What I would say to communities is that I accept that we need to do more and to do better in terms of community engagement, but do not allow yourself be hijacked or exploited by the far right in this regard. We are very conscious of security. We discuss it regularly at Cabinet committees and other meetings, as well as the role of An Garda Síochána.

To Deputy Farrell, who is now in the Chair, I think he has highlighted in many ways one of the reasons we need a task force. Safety in Dublin city, as he said, is not just a matter for any one agency. Obviously, the Garda has a major role to play. I am very pleased that we have been able to allocate more gardaí to Dublin Garda stations. I expect more gardaí to be allocated to all Garda stations as numbers continue to attest from Templemore. Also, I know from talking to people, as the Deputy does too, that safety at night does relate to the lighting, the cityscape, the role of the local authority, the availability of public transport and the availability of taxis. It is that idea of trying to pull together what creates a safe city and how a man or a woman can, particularly when they have finished their night out, safely get themselves home. That is something on which I really hope the task force can provide us with a clear to-do list for all the various agencies that have an important role to play in that regard.