COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 14, 2007

MOTION No. 10

MOTION: Councillor M. Daly

That this Council recognises the need for official and direct liaison between Gardai and elected representatives requests that the Manager seek to set up a shadow policing board until such a time that the Minister establishes the policing partnerships on a statutory level.

REPORT:

Section 36 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005 provides that joint policing committees shall be established by local authorities and the Garda Commissioner in accordance with guidelines to be issued by the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform after consulting  with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.   

The Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform have indicated that the necessary Ministerial consultation is ongoing and that new guidelines are currently in preparation in light of the success of the Community CCTV applications for Tallaght and Clondalkin.  The Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform expects that these guidelines will be available by the end of the May 2007 and this will enable the making of arrangements for the establishment of a joint policing committee in this county.  

The membership, nomination and selection of Committee members will be covered in these guidelines.  

When the guidelines are received the members will be informed and the matter of the establishment of a Joint Policing Committee for the County will be pursued as necessary.