COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 12, 2022

HEADED ITEM NO. 6

Report of Meeting of South Dublin Joint Policing Committee Meeting on Friday, 18 November 2022 at 10.00 a.m. Hybrid Meeting hosted in the Council Chamber and facilitating remote access via Microsoft Teams.

In attendance:

Committee Members: Cllr. Lynn McCrave (Chair), Cllr. Emma Murphy (Mayor), Cllr. Yvonne Collins, Cllr. Mick Duff, Cllr. Shane Moynihan, Cllr. Derren Ó Brádaigh, Cllr. Eoin Ó Broin, Cllr. Shirley O'Hara, Cllr. Deirdre O’Donovan, Cllr. Cathal King, Sean Crowe, TD, Emer Higgins, TD, Paul Murphy TD, Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy, Chief Superintendent Peter Duff, Superintendent Thomas Gormley, Superintendent Paul Dolan, Inspector Paul Mayock and Sarah Middleton (all An Garda Síochána), , Noreen Byrne, John Conroy, Sue Dorgan, and Rita Harte (all South Dublin Public Participation Network representatives), Grace Hill (Drugs and Alcohol Task Force representative), Colm Ward, Jennifer Moroney Ward (both South Dublin County Council).

Also: Paul Perth (Connect 4 Project, South Dublin County Partnership)

Council Staff: Maria Nugent (Administrative Officer), Fionnuala Keane (Senior Staff Officer), Marian Travers (Assistant Staff Officer) and Margaret Farrell (Clerical Officer), Declan Healy (Communications Officer)

Press: Maurice Garvey and William O’Connor (both The Echo)

Apologies: Gemma Carton (Garda Youth Diversion), Cllr. Liona O’Toole, John Lahart TD and Trevor Bissett (Drugs and Alcohol Task Force representative)

The Chairperson, Cllr. Lynn McCrave, opened the meeting at 10 a.m.

1. Presentations:

(a.) Youth Diversion

• Chief Supt. Murphy delivered a presentation on the Youth Diversion Project/Programme which included the following points:
  • The Youth Diversion Programme is provided for in the Children’s Act 2001 and is supported by a network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs).
  • YDPs are community-based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk. There are currently 105 YDPs state-wide, and a further 10 projects with a special focus (for example: more challenging children, family support)
  • YDPs aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project. They are primarily targeted at 12–17-year-old “at risk” youths in communities where a specific need has been identified and where there is a risk of them remaining within the justice system.
  • The objectives of the YDP are to:
  o promote focused and effective interventions to challenge and divert young people from offending behaviour
  o utilise YDP resources in areas of greatest need and to establish effective crime prevention supports in co-operation with other youth service providers nationwide
  • Outline of the duties of the Community Garda and how they build up relationships with secondary schools and the community in general.
  Chief Supt. Murphy responded to contributions from Cllrs. McCrave, Ó’Broin, Moynihan, O’Brádaigh and Dunne and J. Conroy (PPN) outlining the challenges with the perception that there is nothing that can be done with young people on the periphery, referencing in particular communications with communities and schools’ programmes of engagement with Community Gardaí.

(b.) Connect 4 Community Project

G. Hill introduced the presentation, outlining the increasing awareness of the need to make connections with young people by meeting them in their community settings. P. Perth then proceeded with the presentation covering the following:
• Explaining “detached” youth work, which is a distinct form of youth work that engages the most at-risk, marginalised young people aged between 10 and 24 years, on the streets rather than in a conventional youth work setting.
• An overview of an average week and how they try to turn anti-social spaces in to pro-social spaces and try to connect with young people who are completely disconnected and build relationships with them.
• Related activities including late-night soccer leagues, gym sessions, end-of-summer celebration event with funding from the Dept. of Community and Rural Development and SICAP.
There were contributions from Cllrs. McCrave, Duff, Dunne, Ó Brádaigh and Ó Broin, Deputy Higgins, Chief Supt. Murphy and C. Ward who committed to working to support the project offering support and commending its work to date. G. Hill and P. Perth thanked the committee for their support and highlighted the potential for it to expand to other areas.

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Friday 18th November 2022 were proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Moynihan and noted and agreed as a true record of the previous meeting.

3. Matters Arising
It was noted that arrangements would be made for the Council to appoint a replacement for former Councillor Peter Kavanagh, who recently resigned his Council seat.

4. Correspondence
Relevant correspondence was circulated and noted including an invitation to the Beyond Borders All Island Community Safety Conference 2022 which is a partnership initiative between Newry Mourne & Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership, the Drogheda Implementation Board, and the Local Community Safety Partnerships in Longford, Waterford, and Dublin (Northeast Inner City) and which Cllr. Ó Brádaigh and S Dorgan attended on behalf of the JPC.

5. Governance
The committee was advised that new JPC guidelines have been issued by the Policing Authority and they will be circulated to members.

6. Garda Síochána Reports
The report outlining the responses by An Garda Síochána to issues raised in advance by JPC members was noted.

DMR South: Chief Supt. Duff gave a report on the statistics noting that comparison with prior years may be misrepresentative due to Covid impacts. Queries from Cllr. O’Donovan in relation to Neighbourhood Watch and from Cllr. Ó Brádaigh who asked about the increase in theft of cars were responded to by Chief Supt. Duff.

DMR West (Lucan): Chief Supt. Murphy gave an overview of the statistics in DMR west also highlighting the recent community day in Lucan Garda Station in September. Cllr. Moynihan and Deputy Higgins welcomed the open day in Lucan and Deputy Higgins also raised thefts of catalytic convertors. She enquired about the possibility of having a police safety meeting in Adamstown. Chief Supt. Murphy outlined the Garda response to thefts of catalytic convertors and advised that Supt. Paul Dolan would be the point of contact for local public engagement.

DMR West (Clondalkin/Rathcoole): Insp. Mayock provided an update, noting the continued focus on community engagement including involvement in an outdoor cinema event in St. Cuthbert's Park, beat patrols in Saggart, meetings with residents in Kingswood and Newcastle and Schools Talks Programme ongoing in the Clondalkin and Rathcoole areas. Queries were raised by Deputies Higgins and Crowe and Cllr. Ó Broin in relation to increased patrols in Saggart, additional criminal activity in the area and use of the graveyard for under-age drinking which were responded to be Insp. Mayock.

The Garda reports were noted by the Committee.

7. Local Policing Fora Reports
The various LPF reports were circulated and noted by the committee.

N. Byrne updated the committee on the recent North Clondalkin LPF public meeting, which was the first since 2019,and which saw a presentation from the Local Policing Forum Coordinator on the role and function of the LPF, followed by a general overview of policing activities and operations in the geographic area of the LPF by Supt. Paul Dolan. Issues highlighted at the meeting included:
• Stop and searching of young people and methods used
• Insufficient public lighting at various locations in North Clondalkin
• Motorised bikes with no lighting, riders in dark clothing Anti-Social Behaviour-
• Gardaí & Additional Youth Workers for Balgaddy
• Drug dealing in housing estates
• The Child & Family Centre Balgaddy - insufficient use or access to it for local people and youth in the area
Positive activities in the area were also highlighted including:
• The Late-Night Soccer Leagues run in conjunction with AGS, Crosscare and FAI that will commence in Ballyowen park in November.
• A successful Halloween Festival took place in North Clondalkin & Balgaddy, in conjunction with Estate Management (SDCC).
• North Clondalkin CSF held a well-attended event in Balgaddy on Friday 28 October, where there was face painting, and a magic show followed by an outdoor movie event.
There were contributions from G. Hill and Deputies Crowe and Higgins and the update was noted.

8. Drugs Sub-Committee
The report relating to the Drugs Sub-Committee was noted with the next meeting of the sub-committee scheduled for 30th November 2022.

9. Nitrous Oxide
Deputy Crowe updated the committee and progress to date with the proposed legislation in relation to nitrous oxide cannisters which has been through parliamentary procedures and review and is now awaiting scheduling for debate.

C. Ward updated on issues raised at the previous meeting of the committee in relation to disposal of nitrous oxide cannisters confirming that they are not considered hazardous or drug-related waste and can be disposed of in any litter bin.
G. Hill raised the issue of drug-related litter following a recent incident in Tallaght and referred to previous awareness campaigns and contact details for reporting such waste for urgent collection and requested that the Council examine an updated campaign on this issue. C. Ward confirmed that this request would be forwarded to the waste management team.

10. Any Other Business
Deputy Crowe raised delays with NCT appointments and related Garda policy with Chief Supt. Duff confirming that Gardaí are conscious of the issue but are obligated ot take action where vehicles are not roadworthy, Deputy Crowe also raised timelines around CAB procedures and how that process might be expedited, and it was agreed that this issue could be considered in more detail by the committee.

11. 2023 Schedule of Meetings:
The proposed schedule of meetings for 2023 was noted.

The meeting concluded at 12.17 p.m.