The Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD published the second biannual Progress Report on the Government’s plan to improve community wellbeing in Drogheda and its surrounding areas on Thursday 30th March 2023. This plan was published by Government in July 2021 in response to the Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda, completed by Mr. Vivian Geiran, former director of the Probation Service, and commissioned by the Minister for Justice in response to rising concerns regarding crime and fear of crime in Drogheda.
The Progress Report published today by Minister Harris highlights progress against each of the actions in the Implementation Plan up to the end of December 2022.
Welcoming the second update, Minister Harris said:
“I want to thank and commend everyone, particularly those at local level, involved in the Implementation Plan. The Government remains committed to improving safety and wellbeing for the community in Drogheda.
The Drogheda Implementation Plan is an example of the power of cooperation and community. We are only gaining momentum here and I look forward to seeing further great strides made for the people of Drogheda.”
Michael Keogh, Independent Chair of the Drogheda Implementation Board said on the publication of the second Progress Report:
“The publication of these progress updates continues to be very important in showing the community of Drogheda that the delivery of actions within the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan remains a priority for Government and for local statutory and community agencies. With each Report we are showing additional investment in Drogheda and the people of Drogheda.
The continuing support of the Department of Justice and other Government Departments has been, and will continue to be, essential to our success; as is the excellent collaborative working that is happening across services on the ground in Drogheda.”
Illustrating this continued support Minister Harris added:
“My Department secured an additional €100,000 worth of Dormant Accounts funding on behalf of Drogheda Implementation Board in Budget 2023 and I am delighted that the Drogheda Implementation Board have allocated all of this additional funding to a new small grants fund for community organisations in the Drogheda area.”
The Progress Report can be accessed here.
