'Embarrassing' long wait for Laois councillors to formally talk to Gardaí

Laois councillors have not been able to have a formal say on local crime concerns to Gardaí for nine months, due to a hold-up of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

The committee is supposed to meet every three months and hold at least one public meeting a year. The JPCs are is a chance for the public to directly ask senior Laois Gardaí about local policing issues.

However the last one in Laois took place in May 2024, when a representative reported experiencing a rise in racism in Laois. 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley from Portlaoise Municipal District is one of 13 local representatives on the committee, and wants to know when they will return.

"When will the JPCs be up and running? It's last June since we were elected. It's embarrassing that we don't have a forum to represent the county. Have we a date for a JPC meeting?" she asked, addressing the Laois County Council CEO at the January 2025 council meeting.

The Laois County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) has 25 members. This includes the three Laois TDs Brian Stanley, Sean Fleming and Willie Aird, 13 county councillors, Laois County Council CEO, two senior Garda officers and six community representatives. 

Director of Services Donal Brennan gave her an explanation for the delay.

"We've been awaiting information from the Department for the Minister for Justice to issue," he said. 

JPCs were established in the 2005 Garda Síochána act, as a means to keep Gardaí in touch with local issues via the county council. 

The guidelines of JPCs say they should be focused on "improving the safety and quality of life within an area, so that it can be a safe community in which to live and work. The kind of issues can include different types of crime, anti-social behaviour, traffic management, planning for major events, substance abuse, estate management and crime prevention efforts".