Crime Prevention

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Questions (587, 588, 589, 590, 591)

Matt Carthy

Question:

587. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the status of local community safety partnerships in each local authority and Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14170/25]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

588. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice when he expects that each local community safety partnership will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14171/25]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

589. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the role he plans for elected representatives, local councillors and Oireachtas members, within the local community safety partnership structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14172/25]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

590. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he will advise local authorities to re-establish joint policing committees until such stage as local community safety partnership structures are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14173/25]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

591. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if there are joint policing committees operating until such stage as local community safety partnership structures are in place; the local authorities where this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14174/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 587 to 591, inclusive, together.

A key principle of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to promote community safety.

The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 provides for the establishment of this national infrastructure, central to which are Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) which will operate at each local authority level.

LCSPs will replace and build upon the good work of the Joint Policing Committees, supplementing this by bringing together a broader range of relevant stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, local residents, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of statutory agencies including the HSE, Tusla and each local authority.

The objective is to bring the relevant bodies, including the Gardaí, together with communities in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified and prioritised by local people.

The establishment and management of JPCs is overseen by the Local Authorities and An Garda Síochána. Some Local Authorities may be providing a forum for elected members to engage with Gardaí during the transition from JPC to LCSP structures. My Department does not hold data on such meetings or arrangements.

Local elected representatives have an important role to play in the Partnerships. Each LCSP will have seven elected council members as part of its mandated membership. In addition, all local elected representatives, including Oireachtas members, will have opportunities to attend and participate in meetings of their local Partnership.

Each newly established LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan. They will take a strategic approach to the work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner and addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.

A total of 36 Partnerships will be established, based in each local authority area. Each LCSP will be supported by a fulltime coordinator and fulltime administrator resourced by the Department of Justice and will be led by a voluntary Chair.

The Act also provides for a National Office for Community Safety. A function of this Office is to provide training, guidance and support to the Partnerships. In preparation for the establishment of the National Office a number of staff, including a Director Designate, have been appointed. These staff are engaging directly with local authorities and other stakeholders to support the establishment of the Partnerships.

I intend to commence the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 with effect from 2 April 2025.

Question No. 588 answered with Question No. 587.

Question No. 589 answered with Question No. 587.

Question No. 590 answered with Question No. 587.

Question No. 591 answered with Question No. 587.