The Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) was officially launched with the first meeting held at the Council Chamber, County Hall, Kilkenny on Tuesday, 25th November 2025.
The new partnership will expand on the previous joint policing committee to include wider community, voluntary, and statutory involvement, all working together to improve safety across the county.
Kilkenny County Council will oversee the partnership and report to the National Office for Community Safety within the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Kilkenny County Council has appointed Maria O’Shea as Local Community Safety Coordinator to support the LCSP.
The partnership will begin the process of creating a three-year Local Community Safety Plan for the county in early 2026.
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan said, “I am extremely pleased that the Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnership has been established, and its first meeting has taken place. This marks another significant step on the rollout of these partnerships nationwide and this government’s new approach to community safety. The next step for this Partnership is to develop and implement its own, tailored community safety plan. The National Office of Community Safety based in my department, will be on-hand to support the Partnership as it begins its important work.
Bringing together local representatives, community groups and state agencies allows Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnership to develop a plan that identifies community safety needs in their own area. My department has been successfully piloting this model for a number of years in three locations. I would encourage each new partnership to build on the excellent work done by these pilot partnerships who have each published their own community safety plan.
I’d like to thank everyone involved in Kilkenny LCSP for being part of this significant new chapter in community safety. I look forward to following their progress.”
Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick was elected Chairperson, and Councillor David FitzGerald was elected Vice Chair at the meeting.
Cllr. Fitzpatrick said: “I am deeply honoured to be elected Chairperson of the Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnership. I accept this role with optimism and a strong sense of responsibility to work together on community safety issues. Our goal is to design and implement projects in collaboration with local communities, statutory services, and the voluntary sector to make Kilkenny safer and more inclusive. I’m committed to listening, engaging, and ensuring every perspective is valued. Together, we can build a community where safety is shared and partnership thrives and I look forward to the journey ahead.”
For further information on the Kilkenny Local Community Safety Partnership, please visit www.kilkennycoco.ie/LCSP or email communitysafety@kilkennycoco.ie.
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