Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

In reply to a parliamentary question I tabled recently, the Minister indicated, as he confirmed in reply to this question, that none of the €500,000 allocation has been drawn down, which is strange considering JPCs have been in existence for more than a year. The Department is only getting around to resourcing the committees at this stage. Will the Minister encourage council officials and the chairpersons of the JPCs to deliver on one of the functions that has an implication for funding, which is to host public meetings concerning matters affecting the policing of local authority administrative areas? Does he agree holding such meetings would ensure the public is aware of the existence of the committees and it might also encourage Members to liaise with them?

My feedback is that attendance by Members and, in some areas, councillors at committee meetings is low because they believe the committees are nothing more than talking shops. The Minister may agree that unless the JPCs are resourced properly and can conduct all their functions, including holding public meetings, they are in danger of becoming nothing more than talking shops. Will he provide a special additional budget to guarantee these meetings, which are provided for in the terms of reference of such committees, take place so that the public can have maximum input and table questions? There is a future for JPCs and it is vital they are fully resourced to ensure policing becomes a matter at the lowest level.

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