13. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the north-east inner city [30734/23].

Leo Varadkar, The Taoiseach: The Mulvey report, entitled Dublin 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. This report has been further supplemented by the north-east inner city strategic plan 2020-23. 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 Departments and agencies, business and the local community. The board is assisted in its work by six subgroups composed of Departments and Government 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 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 MacDermott Street. The chair 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 comprises senior civil servants across 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.

In May of this year, I appointed Mr. Jim Gavin to the role of independent chairperson of the programme implementation board. Mr. Gavin has taken up the position on a pro bono basis and will continue the important work being undertaken by the programme implementation board in driving delivery on the objectives of the Mulvey report and the strategic implementation plan 2020-23. 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 almost €40 million to the initiative. Funding was increased last year by €1 million to provide €7.5 million for the initiative and we have committed a further €7.5 million for this year.

[For the full debate, click this link to the Oireachtas website]