Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 261: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that a police forum will be established for the Tallaght region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33394/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Section 36 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee in each local authority administrative area. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area.

The joint policing committees are being established by local authorities and the Garda Commissioner in accordance with guidelines which have been issued by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

In view of the innovative nature of the committees and the number which will be established, the Minister decided, following consultation with his colleagues the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to pilot the committees in 22 local authority areas for a limited period.

When the Minister issued the guidelines for these pilot committees in June 2006 he was anxious to strike in the guidelines the right balance between inclusiveness and effectiveness in the size and composition of the committees. With regard to membership of the committees by local authority members, the guidelines provide either for all local authority members to be members of a committee or for representation of each political grouping on the local authority, depending on the size of the local authority.

Under the provisions of the Act, the joint policing committee can establish, in consultation with the local Garda superintendent, local policing fora to discuss and make recommendations to the broader committee on matters affecting their neighbourhood. Supplemental guidelines for the local policing fora will be made at a later date.

In accordance with the National Drugs Strategy, priority will be given to establishing local policing fora in all Local Drugs Task Force areas and other areas experiencing problems of drugs misuse.