Minister Jim O’Callaghan marks major milestone in new approach to community safety
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
- Local Community Safety Partnerships now up and running in most local authority areas, delivering on a key Programme for Government commitment.
- Online national community safety survey opens.
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan today welcomed the significant progress on the nationwide roll-out of Local Community Safety Partnerships.
Members have now been appointed to 34 Safety Partnerships and 31 have held their inaugural meetings at which they elected their Chair and Vice Chair. The remaining Local Community Safety Partnerships are expected to be established by the end of February.
Addressing the first national meeting of LCSP Chairs, Coordinators and Administrators held in the Department of Justice today, Minister Jim O’Callaghan encouraged members to use this opportunity to make a positive difference to safety in their community.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:
“Today marks a significant step in advancing the new Local Community Safety Partnership model, bringing together those who will lead its delivery and strengthen our approach to community safety.
“The next step for each partnership is to develop and implement their own, tailored community safety plan. Bringing together local representatives, community groups and state agencies will allow each Safety Partnership to develop a plan that identifies meaningful actions in response to community safety needs in their own area.
“I want to wish the Chairs and members of the Local Community Safety Partnerships the very best and thank them for being a part of this innovative new approach to community safety. Their willingness and commitment to working collaboratively as members will be the key to success of their respective partnerships.”
At a local level, Community Safety Partnerships will play a major role in enhancing community safety nationwide in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, local residents, elected representatives, businesses, the community and voluntary sector, and state agencies.
A total of 36 Safety Partnerships is being established in each local authority area with up to 30 members in each.
The supporting infrastructure - the National Office for Community Safety, along with the respective Chairs and the Local Community Safety Partnership staff team - will assist each Safety Partnership in taking a strategic approach to dealing with issues relating to community safety.
The National Office for Community Safety is leading on the development of the first National Strategy for Improving Community Safety. A public survey opened on 5 February 2026 and will close on 27 February 2026.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan continued:
"Our National Strategy will be an unprecedented, whole-of-government commitment to redefine and improve community safety across Ireland. It will establish a foundational, responsive, and relevant policy framework that enables public service bodies and communities to work together in a coordinated manner to make communities safer.
“I encourage members of the public to fill out the survey and have their say on the issues that matter most to them in helping us to build safer communities.”
Further information on the National Strategy including the public survey is available at National Strategy for the Improving of Community Safety
ENDS...///
Notes for the editor
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 objective is to bring the relevant bodies, including the Gardaí, together with communities in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified and prioritised by local people.
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (commenced on 2 April 2025) provides for the establishment of Safety Partnerships, which will operate at each local authority level.
Minister O’Callaghan signed regulations to establish Local Community Safety Partnerships on 30 June 2025, under Section 114 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
Safety Partnerships will replace and build upon the foundation of the Joint Policing Committees by bringing together a broader range of community stakeholders.
The Act also provides for the establishment of a National Office for Community Safety.
It is a function of the National Office, which is an office of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, to provide training, support and guidance to Local Community Safety Partnerships. In preparation for and to support the establishment of safety partnerships nationwide, the National Office issued a comprehensive guidance document to local authorities. This document, in tandem with the regulations, provides a framework for the establishment and operation of Local Community Safety Partnerships.
The Safety Partnerships will include a broader range of members than their predecessor, the Joint Policing Committees (JPCs).
Members will include local councillors, local authority officials, An Garda Síochána, 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. Elected local authority members will be nominated to their Local Community Safety Partnerships and, through their membership, will have a crucial role to play in ensuring the voice of their constituents are represented.
Each established Safety Partnership will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan. The partnerships will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner and addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.
