Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a coordinating framework has been drawn up in each Garda district in line with An Agreed Programme for Government Between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats 2002; and the liaison that has taken place with the local community on drug-related matters in each Garda district. [13125/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a co-ordinating framework linking Garda District, Divisional and National Drug Policing Plans is in place within An Garda Síochána.

Furthermore, the Garda Síochána Act 2005, makes provisions for Joint Policing Committees at local authority level and for the establishment of local policing fora in designated areas under the umbrella of such committees. Twenty two pilot joint policing committees with representation from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors are now in place in local authority administrative areas as the first phase of the implementation of this initiative.

These bodies are to act as fora where matters relating to local issues of policing and crime, including drug related issues, can be discussed and where strategies and recommendations for dealing with issues locally can be formulated.