Dail Éireann · 2025-05-15
4 contributions · 4 speakers · 218 words
I too am raising the local community safety partnerships. When will see the local community safety partnerships up and running in Dublin West? As the Minister said, the community safety partnerships were to be restructured to replace the JPCs.
It is very worrying to hear the Minister still has not signed off on these community safety partnerships. Under section 114 of that Act, there is an obligation on me to make regulations in respect of the establishment of local community safety partnerships. I also think they will be very effective in seeking to achieve what is set out in the legislation, namely to have a broader representation within the partnerships so the issues affecting local communities, not just in respect of policing but also in community safety, can be dealt with in one forum within the local authority.
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I too am raising the local community safety partnerships. I believe they have the potential to truly impact community safety if they are implemented in a way that brings the right and relevant local stakeholders around the table and supports specific strategies for specific areas. Too big, and we will not address local problems; too small and it becomes hard to manage. When will see the local community safety partnerships up and running in Dublin West?
As the Minister said, the community safety partnerships were to be restructured to replace the JPCs. They were much promised by the Minister's predecessor, Deputy McEntee, and much lauded. It is very worrying to hear the Minister still has not signed off on these community safety partnerships. There is a vacuum. The JPC is vital in holding the Garda to account. Can the Minister enact this legislation? At the moment there are different approaches in different local authorities. Dublin City Council is continuing with the JPC structures but south Dublin has not had any JPC meeting since last May. I call on the Minister to act with urgency and sign off this legislation as soon as possible.
We need this legislation signed off as early as possible. There are questions about the membership, including membership of TDs and other stakeholders. We need to ensure we have something that is fit for purpose. I request that what Deputy Ward said be followed through on. There must be some consistency. In Louth, it has been a considerable period since we have had joint policing committee meetings. When the Minister has his work done, we need to see that. It needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
I thank the Deputies. In fairness, the 2024 Act was just commenced last month. Under section 114 of that Act, there is an obligation on me to make regulations in respect of the establishment of local community safety partnerships. I assure Deputies that officials in my Department are finalising those regulations. I will use a term I used previously; I believe I will be able to sign them very shortly. I certainly believe they will be signed and in place before we next have questions to the Minister for Justice. I also think they will be very effective in seeking to achieve what is set out in the legislation, namely to have a broader representation within the partnerships so the issues affecting local communities, not just in respect of policing but also in community safety, can be dealt with in one forum within the local authority. I will ask Deputies to consider to the regulations when they see them in the near future. I am sure we will have an opportunity to discuss them again.