The Policing and Community Safety Authority hosted The Conversation event at the Wood Quay Venue in Dublin to highlight the Policing Priorities set by the PCSA for An Garda Síochána for 2026-28.
The event was an opportunity for the PCSA to reconnect with those who participated in the consultation process, outlining the key objectives and themes of the Priorities, and setting out how the PCSA plans to measure progress against them.
Among the speakers were Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, PCSA Chair Elaine Byrne and PCSA Chief Executive Helen Hall.
The Priorities emerged following a major public consultation campaign carried out by the PCSA.
Throughout the six-week campaign, the PCSA heard from thousands of members of the public and hundreds of gardaí, as well as dozens of community organisations across Ireland.
As part of the PCSA’s role to oversee and assess the performance of An Garda Síochána, it has a statutory function to determine the Policing Priorities.
The Priorities, which have been set for 2026-2028, are areas that An Garda Síochána should give the most attention to in order to improve the policing services offered to communities and ensure their safety.
Consultation Outcomes Report
The PCSA has published its outcomes report from the public consultation on the Policing Priorities 2026-28
It outlines how extensive public, stakeholder and garda engagement informed the Priorities.
This report provides insight into what the PCSA heard from consultees through:
- 3,794 responses to an online public survey;
- 33 in-person engagements with approximately 400 garda personnel across all counties;
- Four regional stakeholder consultations involving more than 100 organisations; and
- An academic workshop with 35 leading experts in policing and community safety.
Priorities for 2026–2028
Based on the consultation findings, the PCSA has established three Policing Priorities:
Work in Partnership to Meet Community Needs
Provide a Consistent, Supportive, Quality Service
Enable the Frontline
There are specific key areas of focus and actions under each of the Priorities that set out what success will look like for An Garda Síochána to deliver against them.
This includes key developments and improvements in areas such as:
Community policing and the resourcing of regular units to improve services and visibility;
Responding, with partners, to mental health crises, drug-related intimidation, and other community safety issues;
Ensuring a focus on the policing services provided to, and engagement with, victims, children, and communities with heightened vulnerability; and,
The system and structures in place to support and enable the garda workforce to effectively deliver policing services to communities.