Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
102. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to restructure the community safety forums, the local policing forums and the joint policing committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which redefines policing to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable and supports the human rights of all people throughout Ireland to be and feel safe in their communities. It does this by making prevention of harm, protection of people who are vulnerable or at risk, and the safety of communities a whole of government responsibility.
In order to achieve this, innovative Local Community Safety Partnerships will be established which will replace and build upon the existing Joint Policing Committees and provide a forum for State agencies and local communities to work together. The model is built on the principle that the community needs to be central in identifying what it needs and helping to shape solutions, so each Partnership will devise and oversee a Local Community Safety Plan, tailored to the priorities and needs identified by the communities themselves.
In November 2020, Minister McEntee announced the establishment of three Partnerships on a pilot basis, which will run for the next two years in the north inner city of Dublin, Waterford and Longford. As the pilots progress, they will be carefully evaluated and any necessary changes made to ensure the Partnerships work as effectively as possible for the communities involved. The pilots will inform the further development of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which will facilitate the national rollout of Partnerships in every local authority area.
The General Scheme of the Bill allows for regulations to be made which can provide for the establishment and operation by the Safety Partnership of area-based neighbourhood Community Safety Fora within the administrative area of the local authority concerned. These would be akin to local policing forums, albeit with a broader membership, as required to respond to the particular issues of the local area in question.
Furthermore, I can reassure the Deputy that it is not intended that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will impede the functioning of successful local safety initiatives. Where local safety fora are active, the Local Safety Partnerships will serve as a useful forum to which they can escalate any issues as appropriate, and gain access to a range of service providers.
The Deputy may also be aware that Minister McEntee and Minister McGrath have agreed, in principle, to establish a new Community Safety Innovation Fund. The scheme, when established, will allocate funds to community safety projects and other policy initiatives in the area, including to support the work of the Local Community Safety Partnerships.
