Extension of Drogheda Implementation Board boost for Louth town

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has announced her intention to extend the term of the Drogheda Implementation Board for another year.

The Board was established to oversee the implementation of the report ‘Drogheda: Building a Bridge to a Better Future’.

The extension of the Board’s term will allow it to maintain the positive momentum already built to improve community safety in Drogheda and strengthening co-operation between State agencies in the town and surrounding areas.

The extension of the term of the Drogheda Implementation Board will see it run until September 2024, when the new Louth Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) will be established.

Louth County Council to get €7m to tackle long-term vacancy & dereliction

Government introduces €150m Fund to end long-term vacancy & dereliction in towns & cities

Dundalk IT launches Studio Stories

Collection of standalone videos to support undergraduate courses offered by the college

The LCSP will then bring forward the work of the Drogheda Implementation Board.

The Drogheda Implementation Board was originally established in October 2021 for a 24 month period as the core driver and implementer of the Drogheda Community Safety and WellBeing Scoping Report’s recommendations.

Since its establishment, it has delivered on and overseen a number of positive developments for Drogheda including:

-   A new Drugs Treatment Court Liaison Case Worker situated within the Red Door Project, via Dormant Accounts funding

-  A new Prison Link worker situated within the Red Door Project for two years, funded by the Community Safety Innovation Fund 2022

-   A new dedicated Youth Officer post to deliver on the Drogheda Implementation Plan, funded by DCEDIY

-  Funding for short-term, targeted counselling interventions for primary school aged children impacted by trauma in three schools on the Southside of Drogheda

-  Additional funding for an alternative learning programme for young people aged 13-16 who have have dropped out of the school system through the Community Safety Innovation Fund 2022 (New Choice Project, run by Foroige)

-  Capital investment from SOLAS to the LMETB to develop a tertiary education and community facilities block on the Drogheda Institute of Further Education campus, which will greatly enhance the delivery of third level education programmes in Drogheda

- The establishment of a large-scale Electrical Apprenticeship hub with 360 apprentice places per annum and 20 permanent jobs for the town

Local Fianna Fáil Senator, Erin McGreehan, has said the extension of the Drogheda Implementation Board’s term by a year will allow it to maintain the positive momentum already built to improve community safety in Drogheda and strengthening co-operation between State agencies in the town and surrounding areas.

Senator McGreehan said: “The Drogheda Implementation Board has been successful in building a stronger, safer community in Drogheda.

“It has driven improvements in Drogheda that have a real impact on people's lives.

“This includes key support workers for those caught up in offending behaviours and drug use, educational resources for early-school leavers, trauma counselling for primary school children who most need it and a major electrical apprenticeship programme that will provide permanent jobs and boost educational opportunities in Drogheda.

"I look forward to the establishment of the Louth LCSP and other LCSPs next year following enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill.”