Policing and Community Safety Authority
PCSA
Summary
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The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) was established by the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 on commencement (2 April 2025), dissolving both the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and merging their functions. The PCSA sets policing priorities, approves strategy and annual policing plans, conducts inspections, and monitors Garda performance.
Board members (appointed through a public process on 5-year renewable terms) must be civilians — serving Garda members are ineligible — but the statute does not impose an explicit civilian-majority requirement beyond the general ineligibility rule. The Authority reports annually to the Minister and the Oireachtas without pre-publication review. It has no discipline authority and no independent UOF investigation function.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Restricted |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024
- Citation
- No. 1 of 2024, Part 4, ss. 120-168
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
An Garda Síochána policing services; sets priorities, conducts inspections, monitors performance; successor to the Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate