Sligo LCSP Meeting Minutes

Minutes of Sligo Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) Meeting held at 10.00am on Thursday 28th May, 2026 in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


Members Present

  • Cllr. Marie Casserly (Chair)
  • Ms. Pippa Black (Vice Chair)
  • Cllr. Arthur Gibbons
  • Cllr. Edel McSharry
  • Supt. Tom Colsh
  • Ms. Cara O’Neill
  • Ms. Edel Doran
  • Ms. Caitriona Sinnott
  • Ms. Kira Smith
  • Mr. Chris MacManus
  • Ms. Elizabeth Bartlett
  • Ms. Mabel Chah
     

 

Quorum

Yes

 

In Attendance

  • Mr. Brían Flynn, Director of Services
  • Ms. Mairéad Clerkin, LCSP Co-Ordinator
  • Garrett McDermott, LCSP Administrator

 

Apologies

  • Mr. Martin Lydon
  • Mr. John Ferrick
  • Ms. Deirdre Kelly
  • Cllr. Thomas Walsh
  • Mr. Michael Barrett
  • Ms. Caroline Forde
  • Cllr. Donal Gilroy
  • Cllr. Gerard Mullaney
  • Cllr. Dara Mulvey
  • Cllr. Liam Brennan
  • Mr. Marie Richardson
  • Ms. Geraldine Brennan
  • Ms. Marie Brennan
  • Ms. Bernadette Comiskey

 

Cllr. Marie Casserly, Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted apologies.

The Q&A Discussion with Longford LCSP under the Agenda at 5 below was taken first whilst a quorum was awaited and the meeting proper commenced at 10:55 am.

1.  Declaration of Interest

No Declaration of Interest received.

 

2. Confirmation of Minutes of 23.03.2026

Proposed by Ms. Kira Smith
Seconded by Ms. Cara O’Neill.

 AND AGREED

 “To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of Sligo LCSP meeting held on 23.03.2026”

 

3. Matters Arising

  • Chris MacManus requested an update on signage at disabled parking bays raised at the March meeting regarding set time limits to park in disabled parking bays and in particular signage at rear of Tesco in Wine St. Car Park, Sligo. In response, Mr. Brían Flynn outlined that no time limits should apply and this issue is being reviewed via Roads Department of the Council and will be corrected as soon as possible.
  • Chris MacManus queried whether the Garda 2026 Sligo Leitrim Divisional Plan is available as it may be important to the work of the LCSP. In response, Supt. Tom Colsh confirmed that it is being drafted, should be ready soon and that it will be a public document.
  • Pippa Black asked for an update on clamping/texting system for illegal parking in disabled parking bays. In response Mr. Brían Flynn confirmed this is currently under review by Roads Department of the Council and awaits conclusion.

 

4. Reports

  • Updated Co-Ordinator report since the last meeting in March was given by Ms. Mairéad Clerkin. With the national office, 3 engagement meetings were held, 2 online and a national in-person event in Athlone on 27th May attended by Chairs, Vice-Chairs, Coordinators and Administrators.  Two regional Co-Ordinator Network meetings were also held.
  • On the Community Safety Fund which ran from April to May 2026, one application was submitted by Sligo LCSP on behalf of Sligo BIDS for a two-year Public Spaces Co-Ordinator pilot across three Sligo locations, with results due in October 2026.
  • An update was given on the successful PPN Plenary Community Expo and Community Research Launch Event on the 18th May at the Clayton Hotel, Sligo, at which Sligo LCSP hosted a stand for promotional purposes and at which our public consultation survey was made available in paper and via a QR code link.
  • A mapping plan exercise to identify any safety plans in existence within the sectors/agencies/groups is in progress. A reminder email to be sent to members for update of same.
  • On the Safe & Protected from Harm subgroup of the Sligo Leitrim CYPSC, Ms. Mairéad Clerkin is a member and she advised that one meeting was already held and two more are planned for 2026. Clerkin also attended the launch of the Sligo Leitrim Early Intervention Youth Mental Health Research Report Launch on 25th May in Carrick on Shannon.  Ms. Edel Mc Sharry stated she attended the launch of Mental Health and Early Intervention and asked whether LCSP can support this.  In response Ms. Clerkin advised that the Safe and Protected from Harm CYPSC subgroup is due to meet in June and this topic will probably be referred to as it would be an important part of the LCSP going forward.
  • As to the remaining Sligo LCSP member nomination for the North West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, Ms. Mairead Clerkin confirmed this still awaits Ministerial approval.

 

5. General Items

  • Q&A Discussion with Supt. Seamie Boyle (Chair) and Janine Bartley (Co-ordinator) from Longford LCSP. This was taken at the start of the meeting via Teams led initially by questions from the Chair.  Longford was one of three pilots nationwide and a general overview of their experience over the past four and a half years and advice was given.  After the consultation process and Plan development 6 priority areas were identified and 17 objectives with 60 action items.  Emphasis on consultation being an ongoing process and the need to go out and meet public through community events. Encourage communication between groups. Information provision via leaflet drops and in various languages. Engagement of Gardai with action linked to Plan.  The Chair invited questions from the floor.  Cara O’Neill queried arrangements for working groups and in answer 3 – 5 persons per group advised.  Longford used 3 working groups on a project specific basis.  Cara O’Neill also queried as to any link between LCSP and CYPSC and in answer Longford have no formal link but do have joint projects and pool resources where possible.

    The Chair then asked as to advice on narrowing down action areas in the Plan.  In answer advised a thorough consultation and engage widely with community to include open days.  The Chair thanked the contributors and asked them to forward on their presentation for later circulation to Members.
  • Follow on from members survey: Meave Mc Cormack, external consultant facilitated one to one introductions in Committee grouping on the floor followed by small 4 - 5 member group discussions around community safety issues.  Notes taken for later reporting and circulation to members.

 

6. Members Interest Items (MII’s)

Received from: Pippa Black

“How many times since it was enacted has the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 been evoked both successfully and unsuccessfully in County Sligo?”

In response, Supt. Tom Colsh without going into statistics, noted this as an important issue with hate speech having a ripple effect beyond its direct victims and causing significant social harm.  An Garda Siochana are very strong in this area, are guided by policy documents, and incidents are investigated and prosecuted where appropriate.  Acknowledged there could be issues as to under reporting and perception.  Highlighted importance of education and reaching out into schools as some young children were involved in right wing protests.

Received from: Chris MacManus:

“That Sligo LCSP set up a sub-committee on Rural Crime.” 

Mr. Chris MacManus spoke to this MII and outlined that rural crime is an ongoing issue and that in a 2023 survey only 29% of victims would report.  Need for LCSP to engage with rural community and organisations.  Ms. Caitriona Sinnott confirmed she was fully supportive.

In response Ms. Mairéad Clerkin recommended formation of sub-groups should await the result of the public consultation process and after some discussion it was agreed formation of this sub-group would be deferred but would be kept on the agenda and sub-groups would be reviewed for the next meeting.

Received from: Chris MacManus:

“That Sligo LCSP calls on Sligo County Council and An Garda Siochána (Sligo/Leitrim Division) to intensify and proactively target those who unlawfully use disabled parking bays. Further, to ensure that an annual campaign, similar to ‘Operation Enable’, is instigated with a focus to educate and raise awareness around the proper usage of disabled parking bays, and that such a campaign would engage and allow input from Sligo DPO.”

Mr. Chris MacManus spoke on this MII and the need to enforce the law in this area, including the use of blue badges by non-holders and also to have a similar education and awareness program and to involve Sligo DPO in this process.

In response Mr. Brían Flynn confirmed that unlawful use will be pro-actively targeted by the traffic wardens.

On the Annual Campaign query, similar to ‘Operation Enable’, Mr. Brían Flynn advised that this would best sit with the Disability Consultative Committee (DCC) for discussion. The Chair then proposed to bring this issue to the DCC.

Proposed by Ms. Pippa Black
Seconded by Mr. Chris MacManus

AND AGREED 

“To refer the following to the DCC for their discussion and consideration:

To ensure that an annual campaign, similar to ‘Operation Enable’, is instigated with a focus to educate and raise awareness around the proper usage of disabled parking bays, and that such a campaign would engage and allow input from Sligo DPO

 

7. Local Community Safety Plan update

Ms. Mairead Clerkin as LCSP Coordinator advised as follows:

  • Guidelines from National Office for Community Safety for the development of the Community Safety Plan were issued 24th April and take a four stage approach from (1) Preparation including analysis of socio-economic data and local context, (2) Engagement to include public consultation, (3) Development to identify key themes and priorities and (4) Delivery to include structures, monitoring progress and update plan regularly.
  • The public consultation survey is drafted and based on NOCS template. This has been sent to members and proposed to use this going forward.  Pippa Black put forward a number of suggested amendments and was invited by the Coordinator to submit these in writing to determine whether changes to the survey were warranted. Members raised no objections to the survey proceeding to public consultation.
  • Proposed to form sub-group for the development of the Community Safety Plan at this meeting and invited interest from members. Cara O’Neill queried if there was an outline for the Plan.  Ms. Clerkin confirmed there is not and that it is a matter for each LCSP.  Ms. O’Neill also asked if there was any clarity around the stages and methodology for developing the Plan.  Ms. Clerkin referred to the Guidelines now issued by NOCS which would be sent to members.  Ms. Edel Mc Sharry queried as to any framework for whom should be on a sub-group.  Ms. Clerkin in response outlined there is no framework but that the matter is dealt within the Standing Orders and the National Guidelines. Pippa Black queried the timeframe for completion of the survey and Ms. Clerkin suggested a period of 6 – 8 weeks. Members Chris MacManus, Edel Doran, Edel MacSharry, Kira Smith and Pippa Black volunteered to be on the Community Safety Plan sub-group.  Pippa Black suggested that members not in attendance at the meeting should also be given the opportunity to join the subgroup.  An email to be sent to members to this effect.  After invitation Ms. Kira Smith was proposed as Chair.

Proposed by Ms. Marie Casserly
Seconded by Ms. Edel Doran

AND AGREED 

“To appoint Ms. Kira Smith as Chair of the Community Safety Plan sub-group”. 

 

8. Correspondence

Ms. Mairead Clerkin outlined the correspondence items on the agenda.

In relation to the last item on crime statistics, members were advised that these can be accessed by using the CSO link previously provided and that the Pobal website is another resource.

Proposed by Mr. Chris MacManus
Seconded by Mr. Arthur Gibbons

AND AGREED 

“To note the correspondence items on the Agenda”

 

9. Any Other Business

  • The Chair confirmed that the Department of Justice has confirmed yesterday a budget of €35,000 to cover LCSP costs. Memorandum of Understanding awaited.  Must be spent by year end with no carry forward past 2026.
  • Chris MacManus requested the members be reminded in writing to attend meetings as the quorum was only met by late attendance of a member today.
  • Pippa Black advised Housing First is holding their fourth annual conference on June 4th with Ms. Black to forward details and the Chair confirmed these details will be sent to members.
  • Mairead Clerkin advised that the LCSP must hold one public meeting and that this could be arranged further on during Plan development and proposed dates will be circulated.
  • One closed meeting for Sligo Oireachtas members is required. Chris MacManus suggested that the latter meeting could be held straight after the quarterly meeting on 7th September.  In response Mr. Brían Flynn said facilitation of this would be reviewed.
  • The Chair also advised the 7th September meeting would be held in the Teagasc building as upgrade works were taking place in the Council Chamber.
  • The Chair thanked everyone for attending and for their engagement in the one to one introductions and group activity.

The business of the meeting concluded at 12:35 pm

 


Meeting Date 28/05/2026