Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to funding the establishment of a pilot antisocial behaviour taskforce in Cork city bringing together relevant stakeholders for example, An Garda Síochána, fire authorities and Tusla weekly to identify antisocial behaviour hotspots and divert persons. [42355/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is currently developing a Community Safety Policy which takes a new approach to policing, crime prevention and youth engagement.  Central to the new policy is a more collaborative approach to service delivery, as harm prevention issues go beyond policing and should include other service providers such as Tusla and the HSE. Services need to work together to tackle the range of issues that makes a community feel unsafe, which goes beyond the sole remit of An Garda Síochána.

Strong community participation in identifying the needs of a community and developing solutions is also key. This new approach is to be established on a pilot basis ahead of a nationwide rollout as part of 'A Policing Service for our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing. I recently announced that these pilots will be located in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford.

Another Programme for Government commitment is the establishment of an Anti-Social Behaviour Forum. The first meeting of the Forum was chaired by my colleague Minister of State Browne on 27 October.  This was an initial meeting and more detailed terms of reference and a work programme for the forum are being formulated.  There are potential areas of overlap with the Youth Justice Strategy, which is at an advanced stage of preparation, and this will be taken into account in deciding the particular areas of focus for the forum.

With respect to the situation in Cork City, I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Deputy's suggestion was previously raised at the Cork City JPC with the Chief Superintendent, Cork City Division.  Following consideration of this proposal with Community Policing Sergeants operating in the Division, it was confirmed that open channels of communication already exist between these parties.

For example, I understand that Community Safety Forums, normally held at least three times per year throughout the City, facilitate members of the public in highlighting issues of concern and, in particular, antisocial behaviour patterns.  Any location highlighted as a concern for Anti-Social Behaviour is noted at such meetings and put on a tasking sheet within the relevant functional area for increased patrols to be conducted.

Community Policing Gardaí across the City are in regular contact with Community representatives, Councillors, Resident Associations and members of the public and in general share and gather information around issues of Anti-Social Behaviour.  Community Policing Units target the particular areas in an effort to alleviate the issue and tasking sheets are updated on a weekly basis.

I understand that the Garda Authorities in Cork City are in constant contact with Cork City Partnership, Barnardos , Hollyhill Youth Project , North Link , HSE , Cork City Council , Friendly Call Cork as well as local sporting clubs. Community Policing members also liaise with Muintir Na Tire around safety for the elderly and particularly those living in areas with reported incidence of anti-social behaviour. The JPC also provides a forum where An Garda Síochána links in with external agencies to identify problem areas across the city.