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12 Sept 2025
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12 Sept 2025
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Mayo councillor Michael Loftus blames Department of Justice for delays to setting up policing forum
A Mayo Fianna Fáil councillor has accused the Department of Justice of being responsible for the failure to set up a Local Community Safety Partnership in the county.
The Local Community Safety Partnership was established by the Department of Justice to bring together community members, the voluntary and community sector, statutory services, and local councillors to work together in identifying and tackling community safety issues locally.
They were to replace the Joint Policing Committees (JPC) in local authorities following the Local Elections in June 2024 but one has yet to be established in Mayo.
Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus who has raised the establishment of the LCSP on a number of occasions put the blame of the delay at the door of the Department of Justice.
“Last February the Act was put in place and signed into law in mid April and unfortunately the Department did not have the regulations ready for the staff in the council. I don't think it is good enough and they don't have any thought in delivering it,” he told the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.
The Fianna Fáil councillor had previously served on the Mayo JPC and he told the meeting that councillors were given the opportunity to question the local Chief Superintendent but under the proposed LCSP the most senior member of An Garda Siochána will be a superintendent.
Cllr Loftus said the JPC's worked for councillors and community groups and questioned why the Department was taking so long to set up the LCSP.
“I don't think they really have an interest in it which is unfortunate because those who were on our JPC knew how much we worked on it and what we did while on it. There were so many things we wanted to get done in that period of time and I am not happy about the whole process.
“The department who are the ones who have delayed the whole process. The people from the new groups coming on it [LCSP] have not even been approached and asked yet. It is an absolute disgrace and the department's fault and not the council's fault,” he added.
READ: Mayo Minister turns sod on €50 million Biomethane Plant development
He was supported by Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne who suggested that he raise the matter with his party colleague and Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan.
“You have a line to Big Jim and you know what to do,” the Castlebar councillor suggested.
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