Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, was in Drogheda this morning to announce the appointment of chairpersons of the first seven Local Community Safety Partnerships being established across the country including one in Louth which is to be chaired by Ciarán Reid the CEO of Louth Local Development.

This is the first step in the development of a Community Safety Plan in every local authority area where each partnership will develop a plan to meet the needs of their community, set out the actions to be taken to improve community safety and allow communities to hold local services accountable for implementation of the plan.

Plans will focus on a range of measures from dealing with anti-social behaviour and delivering youth justice measures to improving refuge collection, street lighting and access to services.

Partnerships will be able to apply for funding from the Community Safety Fund which was established by Minister McEntee and ensures that the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau are reinvested back into communities.

“This is a radical new approach to community safety which will empower communities to implement new initiatives to improve local safety and to hold service providers to account on agreed actions” Minister McEntee said.

“It will bring together the full range of stakeholders in each community, including residents, voluntary groups, public representatives and state agencies.

"At a national level we are taking the necessary measures to significantly grow the size of An Garda Síochána, increase the size of the Garda reserve, increase the use of CCTV, roll out body worn cameras nationwide and introduce facial recognition technology as part of the fight against crime.

"At a local level, community safety partnerships will play a key role in working with not just An Garda Síochána, but with other public bodies to ensure they are taking action to make our communities safer.

“Bad public lighting, waste collection, poor planning of public spaces, the location of services, all contribute to feelings of safety in our towns and cities. This new approach allows communities to set out a plan to ensure everybody is taking necessary actions, and the Government will back these plans with funding through the Community Safety Fund which I intend to continue to grow year on year.

“Today I am very pleased that seven Local Authorities have already appointed voluntary chairs of the new Community Safety Partnerships. I want to congratulate Brendan McGrath, Pat Forde, Ciarán Reid, Marian Quinn, Mari Casserly, Noel Coonan, and Seamus Boyle on their appointments as Chairperson of their respective partnerships. I know that they each bring unique experience and expertise to the role, and that they will all work to drive forward the work of their partnerships. I look forward to the continued successful rollout of the remaining partnerships nationwide in the coming months.”

The Minister also welcomed the publication of the fourth progress report on the Drogheda Implementation Plan, saying: “In publishing the Implementation Plan three years ago the Government agreed to put a special focus on Drogheda. This progress report highlights the Drogheda Implementation Board’s continued success with driving initiatives that are improving community wellbeing and safety in Drogheda and its surrounds.

“Major investment from across Government has gone into support services and new initiatives in the area, the breadth of which highlighted our new whole of Government approach to community safety. 

“Investment was made to help address crime and drug use; further community development; provide early interventions for children and young people; enhance vocational education and training opportunities; alongside supports for business and enterprise.

“I am pleased to say that the Drogheda Implementation Board will continue its work over the coming months as the new permanent Louth Local Community Safety Partnership is established.”

The 4th Progress Report of the Drogheda Implementation Plan is available to view here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3e55d-drogheda-implementation-plan-fourth-progress-report-july-december-2023/