Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

501. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the work of the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9828/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Last November, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne announced the establishment of a new group to implement and co-ordinate supports for the Cherry Orchard community.

Brendan Foster, a partner in Grant Thornton, former chair of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the current chair of the Cherry Orchard Development Group, is to head up the new Cherry Orchard Implementation Board.

The model followed by the new Cherry Orchard Implementation Board (COIB) will be similar to the Drogheda Implementation Board, where an independent chair is working with government departments and agencies to progress projects and initiatives to improve safety and well-being. The Cherry Orchard Implementation Board will also be supported by a full time staff member, as is the case in Drogheda.

Mr Foster, supported by Dublin City Council and the Department of Justice, has been consulting locally to identify members and supports needed for COIB. There have also been very useful discussions with the Drogheda Implementation Board to utilise their experience and adapt it to Cherry Orchard.