Cathal Crowe
Question:111. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020. [27970/24]
View answerTuesday, 2 July 2024
Questions (111)
Written answers
The Department of the Taoiseach’s Annual Reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022 are published on Gov.ie and the Department’s 2023 Annual Report is in preparation and will be published when approved by Government. Since 27 June 2020, the Department of the Taoiseach has been working with other Government Departments to progress key national priorities set out in the Programme for Government including through the work programmes of the various Cabinet Committees, including:
· publication and ongoing implementation of the Housing for All plan, including publication of quarterly Housing for All updates with more than 100,000 new homes completed across the country since June 2020 and a strong pipeline for future delivery seeking to exceed the 2024 target of 33,450;
· publication of an Economic Recovery Plan in 2021 to support Ireland’s economic recovery through continued job creation and transitioning towards a decarbonised and digital economy;
· development of the Well-being Framework for Ireland and driving its whole of Government integration in policy making and budgetary systems;
· publication of Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework in February 2022 and ongoing implementation;
· publication and monitoring implementation of annual Climate Action Plans with key measures to help Ireland transition to a zero-carbon economy and society;
· continued engagement at EU and international level on the situation in the Middle East, including by calling for full observance of international law by all parties;
· Ireland’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024, in coordination with Spain and Norway, to support the two-state solution;
· engagement with EU leaders to advance high-level objectives in the Programme for Government, in particular, economic and competitiveness issues; energy security; external relations including with the UK; as well as continuing our strong, collective EU response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine;
· pursuing our international commitments, including strengthening our relationship with the United States, and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
· comprehensive programme of dialogues and research by the Shared Island Unit underpinned by the Shared Island Fund;
· ensuring implementation of the New Decade, New Approach commitments; working with the relevant Departments North and South in advancing these goals;
· strengthening the British-Irish bilateral relationship - including with London, and the devolved Governments in Wales and Scotland;
· management of the whole-of-Government response to COVID-19 including the vaccine roll-out;
· mobilising the cross-Government response to increased inward migration flows (including from Ukraine);
· the establishment of the Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office; publication of its first Programme Plan setting out new measures in Budget 2024 to reduce child poverty and promote well-being; and more recently the first Child Poverty and Wellbeing Summit in Dublin Castle;
· advancements in Sláintecare; improving access, outcomes and affordability for patients by increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the workforce, infrastructure and provision of patient care;
· supporting the development of the next National Disability Strategy that will set out a blueprint for the further realisation of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and will provide the necessary framework for whole-of-government action on disability over the coming years;
· completion of the work of Citizens’ Assemblies on Gender Equality, on a directly-elected mayor for Dublin, Biodiversity Loss and Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use;
· the programme of events as part of the Decade of Commemorations, including the Centenaries of the Handover of Dublin Castle, the Irish Civil War and the inauguration of the Irish Free State;
· continued work across the Department on a range of initiatives such as developing the Government’s approach to social dialogue through the Labour Employer Economic Forum, implementation of A Policing Service for our Future, supporting the work of the North East Inner City Initiative, and work on civil and public service reform and advancing the Government’s legislative programmes.