Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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255. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the work of the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26188/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In November 2022 I, along with Minister of State James Browne, announced the establishment of a new group to implement and co-ordinate supports for the Cherry Orchard community.

The Cherry Orchard Implementation Board forms part of a cross-government initiative led by the Department of An Taoiseach to best examine the issue of local area disadvantage in a number of areas and how best to intensify the interventions already underway, where necessary. The model followed by the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board (COIB) is 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 wellbeing. The Cherry Orchard Implementation Board is supported by my Department and Dublin City Council.

Brendan Foster, a former partner in Grant Thornton and former Chair of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Cherry Orchard Development Group, is the Chair of the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board.

Membership of the Board includes representatives from Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, Tusla, the HSE, City of Dublin Youth Services, the Probation Service, St. Ultan’s Primary School, Ballyfermot & Chapelizod Partnership, and the City of Dublin ETB, alongside local residents and a business representative.

In May 2023, the first Board meeting was held and there have been 10 meetings held as of April 2024.

In April 2024, the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board launched its ‘Progress Report & Action Plan 2024’ at an event in Cherry Orchard Community Centre. The Plan sets out six key sub-pillar groups, each chaired by a member of the COIB:

• Infrastructure
• Youth Work Services
• Community Safety
• Lifelong Learning
• Education
• Family & Wellbeing