Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the future of joint policing committees in towns here after the abolition of town councils in 2014. [28241/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There is ongoing liaison between my Department, the Garda authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the operation of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs).

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to build on existing community policing partnerships and forums to enhance trust between local communities and their Gardaí. In the spirit of that commitment I initiated a review of the operation of JPCs and, on 29 November 2012, I published a discussion document to open the matter for wider consultation. My Department, together with the Garda authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is examining the feedback received during the consultation process, to see if any amendments should be made to the existing guidelines with a view to enhancing the operation of JPCs. The review process will also take into account the broader developments with respect to local government reform which are underway and the implications of this reform for the operation of JPCs.