LEGISLATION does not provide for the establishment of three separate new Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) within Cork county, despite the scale and size of the area, a meeting heard.

The LCSPs are to replace the Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) and are to have a broader remit as well as a broader membership which will include community representatives, young people and members of minority communities.

However, there is still no confirmed date for the commencement of the LCSPs, while the last Cork County JPC meeting was held on January 22nd of last year.

Council chief executive Moira Murrell said: ‘The legislation doesn’t provide for it. It is one county Local Community Safety Partnership that is provided in the legislation.’

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) said they should be looking at three committees and Ms Murrell said they will look to see if there are provisions for sub-committees within that context.

Meanwhile, FG TD John Paul O’ Shea said Local Community Safety Partnerships must be in place nationwide by the end of the year.

‘It is essential that community collaboration is at the heart of making our communities safer. That’s why we need to see the rollout of all 36 LCSPs nationwide by the end of the year, as committed in the plan,’ said Deputy O’Shea.

‘Regulations came into effect in June to get these groups in place but we need to see more of these set up so we can achieve the aims of the Rural Safety Plan.’