Public asked to share concerns at Laois community safety meetings

Laois Local Community Safety Partnership have organised eight public consultations in Laois

Published 25th Aug 2026, 14:00 BST Laois senior Gardaí and Laois County Council representatives and staff with some of the members of the Laois Local Community Safety Partnership committee. Photo: Paul Dargan. Laois Local Community Safety Partnership have organised eight public consultations in Laois Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

Public consultations will be held across the county ahead of the first open meeting of the Laois Local Community Safety Partnership this September (LCSP).

The LCSP was established in 2025 and held its first meeting in January of this year. The LCSP meets six times a year to talk to senior Gardaí about crime and security issues in Laois. However, just one meeting a year is open to the public.

The function of the group is to provide a forum where communities can voice their concerns around local safety issues.

The initiative was rolled out across Ireland as a way of replacing the previous Joint Policing Committees. The new model aims to create a more inclusive and community-driven approach to policing.

The forum is composed of government agencies, local services, voluntary organisations, councillors, and community members.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend the forthcoming meeting at 11am on Tuesday, September 8 at the Laois County Council Chamber in Portlaoise.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the work of the LCSP and to hear updates on community safety initiatives across the county.

Public consultations will be taking place in local libraries across Laois before the public meeting as well as some organised after.

Temporary traffic restrictions announced on Laois road for works The LCSP hopes to hear from as many people as possible and the feedback received will help guide the county’s first-ever Community Safety Strategy which is being developed under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

The first public consultation will be at Abbeyleix Library on Tuesday, September 1 from 10am to 1.30pm.

Rathdowney Library will host another public consultation the following day on Wednesday, September 2 from 2.30pm to 5pm.

There will be one in Mountrath Library on Thursday, September 3 from 3pm to 6pm.

Portarlington Library will host one on Friday, September 4 from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

Another will take place in Portlaoise Library on Monday, September 7 from 10am to 5pm.

On the same day as the first public meeting of the LCSP, a public consultation will be held in Durrow Library on Tuesday, September 8 from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Stradbally Library will also host one on Wednesday, September 9 from 2pm to 5pm.

The final public consultation will take place in Mountmellick Library on Thursday, September 10 from 2pm to 5.30pm.

Encouraging as many people as possible to attend the public consultations, Vice Chairperson of the LCSP and Portlaoise Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley said: “The Laois Local Community Safety Partnership is committed to improving community safety across the county.

“This consultation will help us to uncover the areas of concern for Laois residents with regards to community safety. This will ensure that the Laois Community Safety Plan will include all areas of community safety. We hope to see as many people there as possible.”

Members of the public are also encouraged to complete the Laois Community Safety Survey. The survey responses will inform the priorities, actions, and long-term vision for community safety across Laois.