Cathal Crowe
Question:286. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider changing a rule (details supplied) restricting elected representatives from sitting on multiple Joint Policing Committees. [11351/24]
View answerThursday, 7 March 2024
Questions (286)
Written answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no plans to amend or alter the current guidance governing Joint Policing Committee membership.
At present, this guidance is a matter for the independent Policing Authority to consider, after consulting with myself and my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government as outlined under section 35 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).
However, as the Deputy will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 was recently enacted and under the Act, which I intend to commence later this year, the Joint Policing Committees will be replaced by the new Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs). This new model of community safety was one of the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and addresses the fact that many of the issues identified by the JPCs were outside the remit of An Garda Síochána or the local authority to resolve.
This new approach to community safety goes far beyond the traditional policing response and requires all relevant state bodies and voluntary organisations to work together in a joined-up way, in partnership with the local community, to prioritise and effectively address issues in their own area.
Three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) have been successfully operating in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City over the last number of years. The plan is to roll out at least one partnership in every Local Authority area during the second half of 2024. These Partnerships will build upon and replace the existing JPCs, bringing together Gardaí, local representatives, community organisations, schools, local authorities and State bodies such as the HSE and Tusla, to draft a Community Safety Plan tailored to the community's needs. No one knows better than those who live in a community what its needs are.
The Community Safety Plans agreed by each LCSP will set out the actions identified by the community that need to be taken to improve their feeling of safety, and all of the relevant actors who are involved in delivering those actions are members of the LCSP and accountable to it.