'As public representatives, we are being pushed aside,' councillors condemn new JPC model

Councillors at last week’s sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee have raised concerns about a new model.

Chairperson of the committee, Cllr Noel Coonan, said the JPC is to become a local community partnership.

This may mean increasing the number of members, which some councillors say will make the committee cumbersome.

Cllr Coonan said this will be a significant challenge to the committee and represents a threat to local democracy.

“As public representatives, we are being pushed aside as I see it,” said Cllr Coonan.

Cllr Hughie McGrath supported Cllr Coonan’s comments, saying the new model was “disappointing”.

“I do think it’s a dilution of public representations,” said Cllr McGrath.

Cllr Ger Darcy said it’s frustrating to see their experience unappreciated.

However, Cllr Fiona Bonfield took a more hopeful stance.

She said she was keeping an open mind and would like to see how the new committee will work.