Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has announced that she has designated Gráinne Berrill to be appointed as the first Director of the National Office for Community Safety.

This office established by Minister McEntee will be a game changer for community safety in Ireland. It will lead on the establishment of the new Community Safety Partnerships, enabling communities to develop their own local community safety plans.

Ms Berrill brings with her a wealth of experience in the public and Community and Voluntary sectors, having held several senior roles, including most recently as the Coordinator of the Drogheda Implementation Board; a cross agency, cross sectoral response to rising concerns regarding crime and fear of crime in the area.

As Director, Ms Berrill will oversee the management and administration of the National Office for Community Safety, which will be established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 when the Act is commenced by the Minister later this year.

The National Office will play a central role in the rollout of the Government’s ambitious new strategy for improving community safety. Working closely with Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs), the Office will be responsible for providing support, training, and guidance to local authorities to enhance community safety across Ireland. This initiative represents a key component of the Government’s broader efforts to promote inter-agency collaboration and inclusive community engagement at the local level.

The National Office will build on the work of the LCSP pilot partnerships which have been running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's North Inner City for the last number of years. Each has developed and published a local community safety plan and through independent monitoring and evaluation has helped inform best practice for the forthcoming national roll out.

Announcing the appointment, Minister McEntee said:

“I am truly delighted to be announcing Gráinne Berrill’s appointment today. Community safety is a priority for me as Minister for Justice. It is about people being safe and feeling safe in their own community. Nobody knows a community better than the people who live and work there, and the new Local Community Safety Partnerships have been designed with this in mind.

The National Office for Community Safety will be the linchpin for the LCSPs as they are rolled out right across the country.

Under Gráinne’s leadership, the Drogheda Implementation Board has overseen huge improvements in community safety for Drogheda. I know she will bring this experience to the national level and I wish her all the very best in her new role. We share a commitment to a vibrant and safe Ireland and I look forward to seeing the innovative and crucial work that comes from the National Office and the LCSPs over the coming years.” 

Speaking on her appointment Ms Berrill said:

“I am honoured to be designated by the Minister to be appointed as the first Director of the National Office for Community Safety. I am particularly motivated by the opportunity to bring a broader, coordinated focus to community safety issues, at both national and local level, to enable communities to be safe and feel safe.

I therefore look forward to working with our colleagues and partners across Government Departments, An Garda Síochána, local authorities, statutory agencies, and the Community and Voluntary sector to embed a whole-of-government, whole-of-community partnership approach to community safety that will empower communities to have a strong say in what actions are prioritised by services operating in their area.

My focus now will be on establishing the National Office so we can support this process and I would like to thank Minister McEntee for entrusting me with this task.”