Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will commit to ensure Garda presence at future Joint Policing Committee meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38217/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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A key principle of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and, crucially, with communities themselves. The Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention, alongside representatives of the local community, to promote community safety.

Local Community Safety Partnerships will replace and build upon the good work of the Joint Policing Committees, supplementing this by bringing together a broader range of relevant stakeholders. Mandatory members will include An Garda Síochána, local councillors, local authority officials, representatives from the HSE and the Child and Family Agency Tusla. Local residents, members representing youth groups, the older population, new and minority groups, business and education representatives will also be included.

I recently signed the regulations for the safety partnerships and these came into operation on Monday, 30 June. This now paves the way for a total of 36 partnerships to be established across the country with partnerships in each local authority administrative area.

The regulations outline very clearly how the safety partnerships will operate in practice and will ensure that each partnership operates with transparency, strategic focus, and strong local engagement.