The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) – the new oversight body for An Garda Síochána – was formally established today (2 April 2025), following the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. The role of the PCSA will be to oversee and assess the performance of An Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, in an independent and transparent manner.
It is a successor organisation to the Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate taking on most of their existing functions. It will also play an additional Community Safety role in ensuring that people in Ireland are not only safe, but feel safe day-to-day within their local communities.
Speaking on the establishment of the Policing and Community Safety Authority, Elaine Byrne BL, Chair of the new PCSA, said:
“The creation of the new agency, the PCSA, offers the opportunity to reimagine independent policing oversight, and establish a strong, independent body focused on improving policing and community safety outcomes, providing individuals, families and communities across Ireland with an effective trusted policing service.
Although we are going through a period of transition, communities across the country can be assured that there will be no interruption to ongoing oversight work during this time.
I look forward to working with the staff at the new PCSA, the Garda Commissioner, and the community to enhance independent and transparent oversight of policing services in Ireland.”
The PCSA’s first public meeting will take place on 29 May 2025. Further information about the new organisation can be found on www.PCSAIreland.ie, Bluesky, LinkedIn and X.
*ENDS*
Contact: Glenn Mason, Policing and Community Safety Authority, Email: glenn.mason@PCSAIreland.ie
Notes to Editors:
About the Policing and Community Safety Authority
Following the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 on 2 March 2025, the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate will be dissolved and a new entity – the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) – will be formed. This will incorporate the previous functions of the Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate, in addition to a new role in the area of community safety.
The PCSA’s core objective will be to independently oversee and assess An Garda Síochána’s performance in delivering policing services, in order to ensure their effectiveness and continuous improvement for public safety.
Overall, the PCSA will provide an opportunity to reimagine independent policing oversight, and establish itself as a strong, independent oversight body focused on improving policing and community safety outcomes and experiences, providing individuals, families and communities across Ireland with a world-class policing service.
Dr Elaine Byrne BL was appointed designate chair of the PCSA by Government on the 15th of October 2024 with members of the PCSA Joe Costello; Michael Feehan; Nessa Lynch; Martina Moloney; Freda McKittrick; Tony O’Brien; Ken O’Leary and Emma Reidy.
Helen Hall was appointed designate CEO of the PCSA following a publicjobs competition in early 2024.
Biography of Elaine Byrne B.L.
Elaine Byrne is a practising barrister on the South Eastern and Dublin Circuits with a specialisation in Regulatory Law and Employment Law.
Elaine Byrne has served as a member of the Policing Authority since Feb 2021 and was appointed as Chairperson from 1 January 2024. She has acted as a consultant on governance matters for the European Commission, the United Nations and the World Bank. Her book, “Political Corruption in Ireland 1922-2010: A Crooked Harp,” was published in 2012. She has served as a member of the Hamilton Review Group on Economic Crime and Corruption, and the Seanad Working Group on Reform. Elaine is a former academic and journalist.
Biography of Ms. Helen Hall, incoming CEO
Helen Hall was the inaugural Chief Executive of the Policing Authority, the body which has overseen the performance of the Garda Síochána in delivering policing services to the public for over 9 years.
She has over 30 years of experience in oversight and audit roles – including with Price Waterhouse in Dublin; the United Nations and the World Bank in Malawi; as a partner with Deloitte Southern Africa; and with the UN World Food Programme in Rome. In 2006 she joined the team setting up the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority, the body responsible for oversight of the accounting and auditing profession and became its Chief Executive in 2012. She is Chairperson of the Revenue Audit Committee and is Chairperson of One Family (previously Cherish), a charity supporting people parenting alone. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MA in Criminology.