Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the establishment of local community safety partnerships in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24264/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of all Local Community Safety Partnerships, including in County Louth, will be to bring the relevant bodies together with communities in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified and prioritised by local people. It is the my intention that the LCSPs will be established as soon as is practicable following completion of the regulations.

It is worth saying that Ireland is generally regarded as a safe country, with relatively low crime rates and a general feeling of safety and security. However, this is not the case in every community and some people can experience a different reality. We need the structures in place at a local level so longer term solutions that are not focused solely on policing can be put in place.

Each Local Community Safety Partnership will develop and implement a Community Safety Plan, on a three year basis, tailored to the community’s needs. Each Partnership will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner, addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.

Community Safety Plans will be developed with clear targets, which assign responsibility to the relevant service provider. There are significant benefits to the involvement of relevant agencies in developing a community safety plan in each local authority area. It will allow each partnership to deal with issues of community safety which are not strictly within the criminal justice system like drug misuse, youth services, public lighting, integration and diversity issues.

As the Deputy will know, the Drogheda Implementation Board had a hugely positive impact in the town and surrounding areas in response to the challenges faced in the community over recent years. The experience and learnings from the Drogheda Implementation Board will help inform the work of the new Louth LCSP. It is intended that the Louth Local Community Safety Partnership, once established, will continue to ensure a collaborative approach to enhancing the wellbeing and safety of the community in Drogheda and across county Louth.