NEIC initiative should be rolled out to other Dublin areas, Dáil hears

North Dublin TDs have called on the Government to roll out initiatives similar to the North East Inner-City Initiative (NEIC) to other parts of the city.

The NEIC project was launched in July 2016 and aims to oversee the long-term social and economic regeneration of the area.

The scheme consists of various subgroups with each having different responsibilities such as exploring how to reduce crime in the community, improve the progression of young people in education, improve family wellbeing, enhance the physical environment, and develop recovery and inclusion options for those who misuse drugs and alcohol.

Speaking in the Dail last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the NEIC initiative works on the recommendations published by the Mulvey Report in 2017 and continues to work “closely with officials from the Department of the Taoiseach.”

Taoiseach Varadkar said that the Government is examining other “disadvantaged areas” and how “the model of intervention in the north-east inner city could be extended.”

Fianna Fail TD for Dublin North West Paul McAuliffe said that he wrote to the Taoiseach in 2016 “eager to ensure that we might expand the north-east inner city model to the Ballymun area, which was experiencing a significant rise in the use of crack cocaine at the time.”

However, despite funding at a local level, the communities in north west Dublin need “structural changes such as the recruitment of senior social workers or issues around the number of gardaí being deployed.

“I urge the Taoiseach to put in place a measure that will extend access to a senior officials group to the Ballymun area in order that the money being allocated will be spent in the best possible way with the agencies working on the ground.

“Such a group would give us that framework.

“I understand it should be Dublin City Council that triggers it and I urge the Taoiseach to encourage it to do so. Cherry Orchard jumped the queue a little for an understandable reason.

“However, while Ballymun is being patient to make sure this is a sustainable model across all areas, we want to move ahead and get that group established.”

Dublin Central TD and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that before a similar model can be introduced to other parts of the city, a review of the effectiveness of the NEIC initiative should be carried out.

Deputy McDonald said the initiative “does not deal with housing or the deplorable living circumstances of many of our citizens.

“It has not successfully addressed the fact we have a real gap in addiction services.”

Deputy McDonald also questioned the parameters of the initiative where “part of the north-east inner city is covered by this initiative and the other part is not.

“That never made any sense and has caused significant local difficulties.

“I have raised this many times.

“The north-east inner city still does not have a drug and alcohol task force. It is extraordinary that in the very place where the heroin epidemic sadly first took root, it has now almost been two years that no drug and alcohol task force is operating.”