Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Each partnership will be supported by a dedicated community safety co-ordinator, at administrative officer grade VII, and an administrator, at assistant staff officer grade IV. Both of these will be full-time positions. The individuals will be recruited through the local authority and they will provide the support. They will be full-time staff working on the ground in the office, wherever that is identified to be. There will also be a national office that will help with training and the implementation of the various strategies. Off the top of my head, I believe about €3 million-plus was allocated initially. I am referring to the money required this year to have the office up and running and the support staff. Probably at this stage, half of the year is catered for. Obviously, as we work towards the budget, funding that is required will be put in place for next year as well.

On the Deputy's point, the work of the joint policing committees has been really important. I see this in my county, particularly where there is a model that is more open to the community. In County Meath, every odd JPC was open to the community, and issues were raised about very specific areas on which the Garda could follow through. We do not want to lose that aspect but we must also acknowledge that it is not just the Garda that plays a role in community safety. The fora themselves might present an opportunity for more localised engagement with gardaí while not detracting from the work of the partnership.

See this speech in context