Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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56. To ask the Taoiseach his plans to provide an update on the formation of the Dublin North Inner City Task Force; its terms of reference, chair, and timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23913/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Last July Government launched a major initiative for the Dublin North East Inner City with the establishment of a Ministerial Taskforce to oversee the long-term social and economic regeneration of the area.

To support the work of the Ministerial Taskforce, which I Chair, Mr Kieran Mulvey has been appointed to engage with the local community groups, representatives and other interests, and to report back by November with specific recommendations.

A number of immediate measures were also announced to help the community address some of the immediate challenges facing it.

The Ministerial Taskforce met recently and was briefed by Mr Mulvey on his work to date which has mainly involved many meetings with people in the area, including community groups, residents, businesses, public representatives and public agencies. He will continue his programme of meetings and has invited short submissions to made by individuals or groups to him over the coming weeks. He remains on track to submit his report by end-November.

The terms of reference for Mr Mulvey’s Report are:

(i) to oversee implementation of short-term responses to the recent and ongoing challenges facing the community in the area;

(ii) to review existing structures and programmes for economic and social development within the North East Inner City, both statutory and non-statutory;

(iii) to engage with and involve local community and public representatives throughout the process; this should include a collaborative review process involving children, young people, parents, professionals and other stakeholders;

(iv) to take account of experience and good practice in other projects\areas, as well as national policy developments such as the review of the National Drugs Strategy;

(v) to recommend specific measures which would support the long-term economic and social regeneration of the area, with a ten year timeframe, including in the areas of

- community safety and policing;

- early intervention programmes for children;

- education and training; employment opportunities;

- improving the physical environment;

- housing;

- tackling the impact of drugs; and

- community development including family, youth and recreation activity

(vi) to recommend structures\procedures to ensure better co-ordination of statutory and non-statutory programmes in the area; and

(vii) to identify some indicators of economic and social development which can be used to track progress over a ten-year period.