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Following its establishment in 2021, the extended term of the Drogheda Implementation Board came to an end on 31 December 2024.
The Board was established to oversee the implementation of the report ‘Drogheda: Building a Bridge to a Better Future’ and is an example of how the government is prioritising building stronger, safer communities.
Significant progress has been made on the 74 recommendations as set out in the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan. These recommendations fell under two general headings:
Over the lifetime of the Board 70 individuals have been employed in response to the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan; 23 of these are permanent posts whilst a number of others are funded on a long term basis by a variety of government departments and statutory agencies. In addition, over €31 million was committed in funding either to support these posts or for capital projects.
Minister McEntee said:
"At the core of the Drogheda Implementation Board's work has been the strengthening and improving of cooperation between State agencies. I wish to thank each of the agencies and their representatives for the focused engagement over the last number of years, and indeed for their commitment to continuing their efforts with a partnership approach.
"I’m pleased to say that much of the Board’s work has been effectively mainstreamed through the relevant agencies in the area; this clearly demonstrates how new connections and collaborations can contribute to better outcomes.
"I would like to thank all the members of the Drogheda Implementation Board for the hard work, time and effort that you have contributed to supporting communities in Drogheda. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the Chairperson Michael Keogh and Coordinator Gráinne Berrill for their impactful work and dedication to improving community safety and wellbeing in Drogheda.
"I would also like to thank Martin O’Brien and the LMETB for hosting the Board, the contribution of which has been invaluable."
Local Community Safety Partnerships are being established across the country under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. It is recognised that every community is different and has different problems and issues. Each partnership will develop and implement a Local Community Safety Plan tailored to the specific needs of that area.
It is anticipated that the new Louth Local Community Partnership will be established shortly, and it will continue to ensure a collaborative approach to enhancing the wellbeing and safety of the community in Drogheda.
The Minister said:
"The Drogheda Implementation Board was always envisaged as a time bound programme of work, and its ultimate legacy will be the partnerships forged and the collaborative ways of working it has established among the relevant agencies in Drogheda.
"This is not the end of the government’s focus on Drogheda. I look forward to the establishment of Louth Local Community Safety Partnership soon. I have no doubt that the work of the Board will act as both an inspiration and a guide to this new partnership in the coming years, and that it will build on the positive momentum already created by the Board to continue building stronger and safer communities in Drogheda and throughout the Louth area.
Further information on the Drogheda Implementation Board can be found on the Drogheda Implementation Board website and in the Department of Justice’s original press release about the Board: Government to put “special focus” on Drogheda as Minister Humphreys launches Drogheda Implementation Plan.
The Drogheda Implementation Board was resourced by the Department of Justice, supported and hosted by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board and comprised an independent Chair (Michael Keogh) and 16 members from relevant agencies and the local community.
The ‘Drogheda: Building a Bridge to a Better Future’ report arises from a scoping exercise undertaken by Mr Vivian Geiran, a former director of the Probation Service, at the request of Minister Helen McEntee in 2020. A copy of the report, which was published on 26 March 2021, is available at: Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda.
In addition to an overarching recommendation for the establishment of a coordination structure to improve community safety and wellbeing in Drogheda, the other recommendations in the report cover areas related to: drug use; youth and community development facilities; services for children and young people; education and training; arts, culture, sport and recreation, local authority organisation and services; local infrastructure and assets; employment, enterprise and development; and ethnic and racial issues.