Hourigan and Horner call for €10m in funding for North Inner-City

Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan and Councillor Janet Horner have called for matched funding of €10 million for Dublin’s Inner City in response to the publication of Local Community Safety Partnerships Community Safety Plan by Ministers Helen McEntee Paschal Donohue.

Hourigan said “the report is disappointing and a hugely missed opportunity. It demonstrates a lack of ambition and scope for improving community life in the heart of Dublin city. While I welcome the recent allocation of 10 million euro in funding for An Garda Síochána it is now time to do the serious work of investing in neighbourhoods and young people’s future in the city.”

“An Garda Síochána has already received this much-needed funding boost which will greatly benefit community policing and diversion programmes, although it remains unclear whether it has the capacity to staff the overtime required.”

Councillor Janet Horner, Green Party Councillor for Dublin North Inner City said “in the past weeks, we have seen huge money pledged to increase policing to address safety in the city but we need to see even greater investment and commitment to resolving the social, economic and health issues at the root of many of these problems.”

She called for “more of a focus on creating meaningful opportunities for young people, diverting people away from crime and antisocial behaviour.”

“Addressing the sources of these issues before they manifest as criminality and antisocial behaviour is better for communities, better for the people involved and a more effective use of Garda resources,” she said.

Discussing how the funding would be utilised, Hourigan said that €1.5 million of the matched funding should go towards the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative, with the aim of revitalising the programme with a “focus on parental support, early learning, resources for those in emergency accommodation, funding for research into child-friendly and feminist city management and increased investment in integration programmes.”

€6 million would be designated towards Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces across the city.

“All those suffering with addiction issues should be able to access treatment services in their local area,” Hourigan said, and funding  LDATFs across the city would reduce pressure on services in the centre of Dublin according to the pre-budget submission from the Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces.

€2.5 million would also be earmarked for local sporting, artistic and community services.

“The inner city has some of the best clubs and arts groups in the country including football clubs like East Wall Bessborough FC & Sheriff Youth Club, boxing clubs like Corinthians and many more. Community centres such as Sean O’Casey Community Centre and Ballybough Community Centre in some ways provide the most important supports in the area but need funding,” Hourgain said.

“Investment in this category would also make space for the life of the inner city to be championed- revitalisation of the Royal Canal with benches and gym equipment or using George’s Dock on an interim basis for arts and creative space, parkour and skateboarding facilities.

“I call on the Ministers to not only provide this matched funding but consider a more significant annual commitment to investing in non-policing led community initiatives for those living in the inner city than exists at present. It is a wonderful place to live but we can do better.”