Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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506. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to report on the progress to date of the Ballymun implementation board which was announced on 13 February 2023; when the board first met; the number of meetings it has had to date; the membership of the board, including the community and business representatives, the plans the board has for further meetings; and to outline its plans for engagement with the local community. [29154/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I announced the Ballymun Implementation Board, with former Dublin GAA CEO John Costello as Chair, in February. As has already been announced, the Board will be hosted by Dublin City Council, and will include local representatives from the relevant agencies.

A list of these agencies was published as part of the announcement of the Board on the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8e4dc-minister-mcentee-announces-the-formation-of-a-new-group-to-improve-community-safety-in-ballymun/

Officials from my Department, the Chair, and Dublin City Council, are working together to identify the appropriate ex-officio and other members of the Board necessary in the context of the challenges locally, and invites have issued to nominees, a number of which have been accepted.

In line with other Implementation Boards (Drogheda and Cherry Orchard), the Department of Justice will fund the positions of a coordinator and an administrator as required by the Board. I am advised that Dublin City Council are in the process of identifying a coordinator.

Specific capital funding is being made available for Ballymun by both Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, but in line with best practice elsewhere, any projects or interventions which are identified to support community safety in Ballymun will need to be funded through engagement with the relevant agencies who would be mainstream funders of such projects.

The Board's agenda and programme of work, along with its engagement with existing reports and bodies in the area, will be determined over the course of its initial meetings, which it is hoped will commence in the coming weeks. I am advised by Dublin City Council that engagement has taken place between the Chair, local representatives, the Ballymun Drugs Task Force and local TDs.