A Killarney Municipal District councillor has been elected as the first chair of the newly-formed Kerry Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).

The inaugural meeting of the LCSP took place last week at the Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre. The new body replaces the former Joint Policing Committees and is being rolled out nationwide.
The partnership is designed to give local residents a stronger voice in identifying and addressing community safety issues. It brings together councillors, Council management, An Garda Síochána, community and resident representatives, business and education representatives, and statutory agencies including the HSE and Túsla.
At the first meeting, Cllr Niall Kelleher was elected chairperson, with Derry Ó Murchú from Dingle elected vice-chair.
Cllr Kelleher said the new structure will allow a more coordinated approach to safety issues across the county.
“The future of community safety in Kerry starts with all of us working as one,” he said. “A shared approach to problem-solving can ensure that potentially harmful situations do not develop. Interventions should be delivered proactively and in a joined-up way with other services.”
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the establishment of the partnership, calling it an important step in the Government’s new approach to community safety.
The next task for the Kerry LCSP will be to develop its own local community safety plan, supported by the National Office of Community Safety.