Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the powers of the local joint policing committees; his plans to resource the Joint Policing Committee, County Louth; the date on which he will receive the report on JPCs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The functions and powers of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a Committee in each local authority area. The Act provides that JPCs operate under guidelines issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The current guidelines were issued in September, 2008.

In relation to the report referred to by the Deputy, I assume he is referring to the outcome of the review of the operation of JPCs which I have previously mentioned in the Dáil. My Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and An Garda Síochána have commenced work on the review and have canvassed opinions from existing JPC members. It is intended that a document will shortly be prepared, on the basis of which consultations will take place with the local authorities and other stakeholders. Elected members of the Oireachtas and of local authorities will be invited to contribute to this process.

With regard to the allocation of resources for the Louth JPC, or any other JPC, the position is that each agency involved in the Committees is expected to meet the expenses arising for itself from within its own budget. It is important to bear in mind that JPCs are a forum for engagement to promote more effective action by the various stakeholders and are not an additional administrative structure.