Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, to the House. I have been asked to bring this matter to his attention by Councillor Paddy McQuillan of Louth County Council. As the Minister of State knows, in 2020 Mr. Vivian Geiran carried out a scoping exercise in Drogheda as a direct result of the gang feud that had terrorised the town. He spoke to all relevant agencies and bodies directly and indirectly involved with the feud. The comprehensive report was finalised and submitted to the Department in January 2021. The report put forward over 70 recommendations to improve the community safety and well-being of the citizens of the town. The report was publicly released by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on 26 March, when she stated that, "Over the next few weeks engagement will continue with relevant departments with a view to finalising the implementation plan by the end of April." Councillor McQuillan is very disappointed that there has been no real move on this implementation plan. We are now at the first day of June and I would be grateful if the Minister of State could update me on the current status of the report and its lengthy list of recommendations.

The implementation of this report is essential to improving the safety, well-being and development of Drogheda. The first and most important recommendation of the report is that the high-level oversight group, consisting of members of seven Departments, is responsible for signing off on an agreed plan of action. I would like to know if it has been signed off and an agreed action plan put in place. I understand that the chief superintendent has stated that he has a team in place ready to go but has not had any contact from the Government to date. Other agencies directly involved are also anxiously waiting to engage on the recommendations.

While the commissioning of the report was welcomed by the people of Drogheda, it will have been a wasted exercise if it is not acted upon soon. I have been assured that the people of Drogheda do not want to see this report sitting in the Department gathering dust while people’s lives continue to be seriously affected by the ongoing problems. With the summer recess getting closer there is real concern locally that failure to implement the very first recommendation augers badly for the remaining 69 recommendations. As the Minister of State can appreciate, local groups are really anxious to get going on this report and its recommendations. We must remember this activity is seriously affecting citizens' everyday life, safety and well-being. Time is of the essence and I hope in all sincerity the Minister of State will have answers to the three questions that I have posed today.