Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on efforts to tackle rural crime, and to particularly protect those who are vulnerable, either living alone or in rural, isolated areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52120/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The safety and welfare of every person, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, is of utmost importance.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people across both rural and urban Ireland are safe and feel safe, and to ensuring that there is strong, visible and effective policing, including community policing.

A key pillar of the Programme for Government is building stronger and safer communities. The ongoing work of my Department in this area is highlighted in Justice Plan 2022. I was delighted, as one of the actions of this year's Justice Plan, to publish the Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 at the Ploughing Championships in September.

I recognise that rural safety is not just about the number of Gardaí. Community Safety is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department funds a number of initiatives around the country to help build rural safety.

Of course the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and detecting crime. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

This year's winter phase of Operation Thor was launched by Gardaí on 01 October. Operation Thor is designed to tackle burglaries and associated criminal activities, which often increase in the darker winter months, through targeted enforcement and crime prevention activity and information.

Since its inception in 2015, Operation Thor has proved highly successful in tackling property related crime and figures show that there has been a 36% reduction in the rate of such offences when compared to the pre COVID-19 levels in 2019. The Operation's winter phase places particular emphasis on preventing any predicted surge in burglaries of residential properties during this period.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of over €2.14 billion. I am advised that so far, the Public Appointment Service have provided to An Garda Síochána the first two batches of candidates from this year's recruitment campaign following the interview process, totalling approximately 270 candidates.

Coupled with the Commissioner's intention to launch another recruitment campaign in mid-2023 and the level of funding provided by Government, this will provide An Garda Síochána with a pipeline of recruits.

In addition to new recruits, the rollout of the new Garda Operating Model will support the redeployment of Gardaí from non-core duties to frontline policing across the country. The new model will see larger Divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services, and a strong focus on community policing.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will also provide for the establishment of innovative Local Community Safety Partnerships to develop local safety plans, tailored to the priorities and needs identified by communities themselves. The Local Community Safety Partnerships will replace and build upon the existing Joint Policing Committees, and will provide a forum for State agencies and local community representatives to work together to act on community concerns. Three pilot partnerships are currently underway in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a detailed update on the progress made with respect to the Drogheda implementation report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52170/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Clear actions and timelines regarding the Drogheda Implementation Plan are included in the Justice Plan 2022, which reflects the Government’s commitment to put a special focus on Drogheda.

As the Deputy may be aware, in 2021 my Department published a report I had commissioned from the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations on short and long-term responses to challenges the community faces in Drogheda.

The report explored the challenges on the ground as well as local strengths and resources. It also identified measures that could support community safety and chart a path to improved community wellbeing in and around Drogheda.

In July of last year, Minister Humphreys 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.

The Implementation Plan identifies the relevant stakeholders for each recommendation and outlines the next steps for engagement and delivery. The Plan is a living document and will be reviewed by my Department each quarter, with progress reports produced twice yearly. The first progress report of the Drogheda Implementation Plan, combining updates from Q1 and Q2 2022, is currently under development and will be published in the coming weeks.

The most important aspect of the Plan is at local level where the Drogheda Implementation Board is the core driver and co-ordinator of the activities outlined in the plan, with my Department providing national oversight to ensure strategic direction, action planning and the delivery of the Drogheda Implementation Plan through the Drogheda Oversight Board, which has met twice to date.

The first meeting of the Drogheda Implementation Board took place on 13 October 2021 and a number of positive actions have arisen from the plan to date. For example:

- The Department of Education has provided additional supports to the three Northside schools identified in the report for a five year period.

- My own Department and the HSE have provided further funding to the Red Door Project to ensure the continued provision of their important services. In total across 2021 and 2022, this represents an investment of €230,000 in staffing resources to provide additional services in the Drogheda area.

- Funding was provided to the Moneymore Consortium to support their 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 they provide to children.

- My Department secured a further €250,000 in Dormant Accounts Funding for continued implementation of targeted crime prevention and harm-reduction measures in Drogheda in 2022.

- My Department announced additional Youth Diversion Funding of almost €75,000 for early intervention and family supports to the Boyne Project.

- Drogheda based projects the Red Door Project (€98,014) and Foróige (€150,000) also received funding under the Community Safety Innovation Fund announced this week.

- The Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris recently announced funding for a new craft skills training hub in Drogheda which will provide training to approximately 336 apprentices each year.

Further details on the progress to date will be available in the upcoming progress report.