Minister’s tribute to community

MINISTER for Finance and Dublin Central TD, Paschal Donohoe, paid tribute to the local during a recent visit to the area.

Minister Donohoe was meeting with North East Inner City (NEIC) Programme Implementation Board Chair, Michael Stone, at the D-Light Studios in Ballybough for an update on the work of the NEIC Initiative.

While there he met with members of the community and heard about current and upcoming NEIC funded projects.

The event hosted a number of projects in the areas of sport and wellbeing, children and young people, health, education and rehabilitation. 

Among them were the Early Learning Initiative, NEIC Sport Programme and the Ana Liffey Drugs Project, with all projects in attendance having a chance to outline the work they are doing in their area, as well as their plans for further development in the years ahead.

Minister Donohoe thanked Mr Stone for the work undertaken over the last two years in overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the Mulvey Report.

“The energy and drive of Michael and the local community to delivering the Mulvey Report recommendations is never taken for granted,” he said.

“Having so many projects here today, setting out their work and learning from each other demonstrates the commitment each has to ensuring that we build the brightest future possible for the residents of the north east inner city.

“The Programme Implementation Board’s tireless work and focus on delivering long-term sustainable outcomes, through the most effective means possible means that cross-team collaboration and alignment of objectives across the subgroups puts the building of relationships and partnership front and centre of what they are doing.

“This ensures accountability for the delivery of priority actions and is delivering results. 

“This is assisting in the building of stronger and more unified communities for the proud and determined people of Dublin’s NEIC.”

NEIC Programme Implementation Board Chair, Michael Stone, expressed his acknowledgment – and that of the NEIC Board – to the Government for their continued support for the NEIC Initiative.

“As many of you are aware, the NEIC Board is finalising a strategic document that will set out our priorities for the next three years,” he added.

“Consultation on this document is ongoing and close to completion. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for your contribution to this consultation process and shaping the future direction of travel of the NEIC Board.

“Significant progress has been made in many areas and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your personal contribution.

“This progress can only happen with the hard work and commitment of individuals and organisations such as yourselves. 

“I look forward to continuing our work together to create a brighter future for all in the NEIC.”

Last week, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government was committed to reopening Fitzgibbon Street Garda Stations following the revelation that the north inner city has the highest crime rate in Ireland.