Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

There is a very small budget for the operation of the joint policing committees, which is the main subject of the Deputy's question. Significant resources of approximately €12 million are allocated to the Garda youth diversion projects. This funding is allocated to specific projects rather than to the local authorities. The local authorities have significant powers under various Acts on the issue of public order offences and anti-social behaviour. To the best of my memory, an Act passed in 2003 allows local authorities to pass a resolution advising a District Court judge on the issue of special exemption orders and whether local public representatives wish to have special exemption orders curtailed to 1 a.m. or 1.30 a.m. This power is available but it has not been used by local authorities. It is therefore not just a matter of resources but also of implementing some of the existing legislation and local authorities have a role in that respect. I am a great supporter of joint policing committees because for the first time they bring together local authorities and the Garda Síochána in an open forum and the Garda Síochána must account for issues arising in the locality. This brings the issues down to local level and the local representatives who are sometimes critical of the Garda Síochána can understand the Garda viewpoint and equally the Garda Síochána can encourage the local public representatives to take various initiatives.

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