Press release
Minister McEntee launches first progress report on plan to improve wellbeing and safety in Drogheda
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has today published the first twice yearly progress report on the government’s plan to improve community wellbeing in Drogheda and its surrounding areas Drogheda Implementation Plan Progress Report.
The update highlights the progress made on specific actions within the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan up to the end of June 2022.
The report, which Minister McEntee published today, details progress against each of the actions in the Implementation Plan, showing positive progress made against actions around addressing crime, drug use, youth and community development and educational supports.
Several recommendations outlined in the Drogheda Scoping Report have been progressed, including:
Speaking on the launch of the progress report today, Minister McEntee said:
“The government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and improving the safety and wellbeing of the community in Drogheda.
“Improving community safety is not just a matter of policing crime – it is about ensuring that the range of State and community services that contribute to people’s wellbeing are working together in a coherent manner.
“The cross-government responsibility to deliver on the actions contained in the Drogheda report are clear – and I am greatly encouraged by the progress we have made so far.
“Already, a number of urgent funding and resourcing needs have been met – we have provided more funding to the Red Door Project, which is a vital service for those affected by drug and alcohol use in Drogheda, which will help with, counselling, family support and additional harm reduction services in Drogheda.
“Additional teachers have been provided to three schools identified in the Drogheda Scoping Report for a fixed term of 5 years, which will provide the schools with stability in resources to develop their capacity to respond to the needs of students and provide for better outcomes in the medium and long-term.”
A further action included in the Implementation Plan was to explore visible and practical ways of re-investing the proceeds of crime into community resources, which has been achieved through the establishment of the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
The Community Safety Innovation Fund was established in April 2021 to reinvest proceeds of crime, as seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, back into communities.
€2 million was allocated to it under Budget 2022, with 22 community projects to receive grants between €5,000 - €150,000 under this allocation.
And this will increase to €3 million next year under Budget 2023.
Allocations to Drogheda-based projects through the new CSIF, announced on 17 October, include:
In addition, implementation of the plan is continuing and recent announcements, which fall outside the end of June 2022 timeline for this progress report, include:
Minister McEntee added:
“I believe that the supports provided across areas such as youth services, health, further education and community development will have a meaningful impact on the quality of life for people in the town.
“The collective, multi-agency approach to community safety adopted in Drogheda is at the heart of the great work that is happening there. We must continue that momentum as we focus on the road ahead and our goal of building a better future for all in Drogheda.”
Last week, the Minister also launched a new community safety website.
Speaking today the Minister said:
“gov.ie/communitysafety is a practical resource which explains what community safety is and how this government, Local Communities including residents, youth, new communities, business and education sector representatives, relevant public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána, the local authorities and public representatives are working together to achieve it.
"It features information on Local Community Safety Partnerships, other related safety initiatives such as the Community Safety Innovation Fund and crucially, explains how you can get involved. I would urge people to go to gov.ie/communitysafety to learn more about how we can work together to deliver the kind of communities where people want to live, work and enjoy their leisure time.”
This update is the first of a twice yearly progress report on the Drogheda Implementation Plan, providing updates on actions and timelines to the end of June 2022.
The Drogheda Scoping Exercise was commissioned by the Minister for Justice in 2020 in response to rising concerns regarding crime and fear of crime in Drogheda.
The report, entitled ‘Drogheda: Creating a Bridge to a Better Future’, was completed by Mr. Vivian Geiran, former director of the Probation Service, and published in January 2021.
The report explored the challenges presenting in the Drogheda catchment area, in addition to 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.
The recommendations in the report fall under 2 general headings:
Since the publication of the report, the Department of Justice has engaged with relevant government departments and agencies, and Louth County Council to develop an action plan to implement the recommendations contained in the report.
At a local level, the Drogheda Implementation Board is the core driver and co-ordinator of the activities outlined in the Plan, while the Department of Justice provides national oversight to ensure strategic direction, action planning and the delivery of the Drogheda Implementation Plan.
Additionally, the recently established Drogheda Implementation Plan High Level Oversight Group, chaired by the Department of Justice, provides further oversight with representatives from all key government departments, the HSE and Tusla.
The Drogheda Implementation Plan is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis as new actions or activities emerge.