10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the north-east inner city initiative. [4086/23]

11. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the north-east inner city initiative. [5720/23]

12. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the north-east inner city task force. [5887/23]

The Taoiseach Leo Vradaker: The Mulvey report, Dublin's North East Inner City: Creating a Brighter Future, which was published in February 2017, contains recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north-east inner city. The report has been further supplemented by the north-east inner city strategic plan 2020-2023. Implementation of the Mulvey report and the strategic plan is overseen and progressed by the programme implementation board. The board meets on a monthly basis and its members include representatives from relevant Government Departments and agencies, business and the local community. The board is assisted in its work by six subgroups comprised of Departments and agencies, and community representatives. These subgroups look at enhanced policing; maximising educational, training and employment opportunities; family well-being; enhancing community well-being and the physical landscape; substance use, misuse and inclusion health; and the alignment of services.

Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach work closely with the board, the subgroups and the dedicated programme office based on Sean McDermott Street. The chairperson of the programme implementation board reports to an oversight group, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach. Membership of the oversight group is comprised of senior civil servants across Government Departments and agencies who are actively engaged with the work of the north-east inner city initiative. This group ensures strong and active participation by all relevant Departments and agencies and deals with any barriers or issues highlighted by the board. Following the recent resignation of the chairperson of the board, arrangements will be made for the appointment of a new chairperson and I will advise the Government of a nominee in due course. In the interim, the work of the board will continue with the aid of the Department of the Taoiseach. The Government is committed to ensuring that the programme implementation board has the necessary resources to achieve its targets and fulfil its ambition. From 2016 to 2022, inclusive, the Government provided over €38.2 million in funding for the initiative. In 2022, funding was increased by €1 million to provide €7.5 million for the initiative and the Government has committed a further €7.5 million for this year.

I have raised the need to review this initiative with the Taoiseach's predecessor, the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, and I raise it again with the Taoiseach at this juncture. We need to assess in real terms what progress has been made. The review needs to also include the need to expand the boundaries of this initiative because only one section of the north inner city is actually covered. Other areas which have been just as affected by poverty, drugs and the whole gangland phenomenon have been left outside of its scope. This has caused a real problem right across communities. I argued back in the day that all of the north inner city needed to be included. I believe that remains the case. I hope a proper thorough and independent review of the initiative will occur. The north inner city community coalition, a very broad-based coalition, has, I understand, written to the Taoiseach. It wants to meet him to talk about the appointment of a new independent chairperson. It is important that the chairperson is independent. I understand the Taoiseach has not yet undertaken to meet this group. Will he meet it?

The north-east inner city has no drugs task force.

[For the full debate, click here to the Oireachtas website]