Strong support for Drogheda pilot of Operation Encompass

Louth TD Paula Butterly has warmly welcomed the announcement that Drogheda is to be chosen as a pilot location for Operation Encompass, an early intervention strategy which aims to provide immediate support for children impacted by domestic violence.

In Drogheda today members from An Garda Síochána, the PSNI, school principals, education partners and government officials North and South came together to exchange information and lessons learned from rolling out Operation Encompass across Northern Ireland.

Operation Encompass is a proven early‑intervention scheme that ensures a child’s school is notified by An Garda Síochána within 24 hours of attending a domestic violence incident in the child’s home. This simple but powerful measure allows teachers and school staff to understand what a child has experienced and to offer immediate, compassionate support during the school day.

“This is an important step forward in protecting children affected by domestic violence, and I am delighted that the minister has taken on board my representations that Drogheda be chosen as the pilot location for this initiative,” said Deputy Butterly.

Drogheda will mirror the original Downpatrick pilot, an initiative that has since expanded to all 1,162 schools in Northern Ireland and processed approximately 60,000 notifications in its most recent reporting year, which Deputy Butterly said "shows the confidence placed in our local schools, services, and community partnerships".

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Deputy Butterly said that today’s cross‑border meeting in Drogheda, involving An Garda Síochána, the PSNI, school leaders, education partners, and officials North and South, reflects a shared commitment to learning from the successful Northern Ireland model and applying those lessons here. This collaboration, she said, is supported through the Shared Island Initiative, ensuring that the Drogheda pilot is built on strong evidence, close cooperation, and best practice.

The Louth TD said “I strongly advocated for these measures from the outset and consistently pressed for their inclusion as a result of school visits school and community engagement and During negotiations and throughout the pre‑legislative scrutiny process at the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration earlier this year, I made sure that Drogheda’s experience and needs were clearly understood.”

"I highlighted the specific challenges faced in Drogheda and emphasised the importance of a more coordinated approach to school policing.

"I also recommended that Drogheda be selected as a location for any pilot schemes arising from this legislation, ensuring that our community is at the forefront of new initiatives designed to improve safety and strengthen cooperation between schools and Gardaí.

"Drogheda’s involvement is not accidental it reflects recognition of the town’s size, diversity, and the collaborative groundwork already established through the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan and the work of the Louth Local Community Safety Partnership. This pilot will allow our community to lead the way in demonstrating how schools, policing, and local services can come together to safeguard children experiencing trauma.

"I want to commend all those involved local school principals, frontline Gardaí, education partners, Cuan, and community safety leaders for their dedication to ensuring children receive the support they need when they need it most."

Deputy Butterly added, “I fully support this pilot and eagerly look forward to seeing Drogheda once again serve as a model of innovation and collaboration in improving community safety and child wellbeing.

"This is a vital step toward reducing the impact of domestic violence on children across our island and Drogheda is leading the way."