Strategic Insights and Research

Determining An Garda Síochána’s policing priorities

As part of our functions relating to An Garda Síochána’s policing services, we must seek the approval of the Minister for Justice to determine policing priorities. The current policing priorities, revised in 2024, to run to the end 2025, are available here (link). 

Strategy statement

We are required to prepare and submit to the Minister for Justice a three-year strategy statement. To allow the Policing and Community Safety Authority a period of time to prepare a strategy (including a consultation process) the Policing Authority Statement of Strategy has been extended to 2025 and is available here (link).

A consultation about the PCSA Statement of Strategy will be advertised on the PCSA website when open.

Research projects available to PCSA

The PCSA can undertake, commission or assist in research projects (including by way of public consultation) and other activities relating to policing services which, in the opinion of the Authority, may:

(i) Promote improvements in standards of policing services and generate public awareness of such services.

(ii) Promote improvements in inter-agency collaboration and community engagement to improve community safety.

(iii) Contribute to a reduction in the number of complaints against members of garda personnel or the Garda Síochána generally in relation to policing services, and subsequently make recommendations to the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice arising from such projects or activities.

There are a number of ongoing research projects, and published research is available on our publications page here (link).