Gay Mitchell
Ceist:402 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a part-time co-ordinator will be sanctioned for a policing forum (details supplied). [26778/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 November 2004
Ceisteanna (329)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware in December 2001, an independent evaluation of the community policing forum in Dublin's Garda A district, Kevin Street — Kilmainham, recommended, inter alia, that a state funded co-ordinator be appointed to assist in the work of the forum.
Co-ordinators are provided in certain cases for fora through funding under the national drugs strategy. In a reply to Deputy Costello's question on 9 December 2003, I described in detail the operation of such fora, the mechanisms for funding and my plans for the future in this regard. In my reply to the Deputy's question on this topic also on 9 December 2003, I outlined the reasons it was not possible or appropriate for the Garda Síochána to fund the requested co-ordinator.
In May of this year, a delegation on behalf of the Rialto community policing forum, led by Deputy Ardagh met with me to discuss provision of funding for the forum. I indicated at the meeting that I am sympathetic towards the case and very supportive of the good work of the forum. At my invitation, the forum subsequently submitted a written proposal in this regard. Having considered the matter further in conjunction with the commissioner, I still agree that such funding is not appropriate for the Garda Vote. However, I have recently written to my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Community Affairs to consider the matter both in the particular situation of the A district but also in the wider context of co-operation between the Garda and local authorities at community level. I await his reply.
I have also raised the matter with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Michael Conaghan when I met with him in September 2004 in the context of his commission on crime and policing in the city. The Lord Mayor has indicated that it may be premature for the city to make special arrangements for one area in advance of the general structures and funding for all joint policing committees and local policing fora being determined following enactment of the Garda Bill. I gather that the city council is not involved in the Rialto forum and is not aware of what structures or processes for accountability to the community are in place. Perhaps this is an area which the forum should explore.
The growth of community policing fora in general needs to be delivered in the context of the development of an appropriate policy framework for what are relatively new partnership structures involving the Garda, local authorities and local communities. Such a framework will ensure that such fora can be appropriately developed in a consistent and properly planned manner rather than the ad hoc way in which they have tended to emerge in a number of different contexts to date.
Work is well under way in relation to the development of such a policy framework which will facilitate progress in this area. The Garda Síochána Bill 2004 represents the most significant legislative reform of Garda structures since the foundation of the State. Included in its draft provisions are mechanisms for enhanced co-operation between the Garda and local authorities through the establishment, on a statutory basis, of policing committees. It is intended that such committees will act as fora where matters relating to all aspects of policing can be discussed and where strategies and recommendations for dealing with issues arising locally can be decided. It is intended that these policing committees will facilitate the establishment of local policing fora to address specific issues in local areas.