The establishment of community policing forums - one in every local authority area - will be among the recommendations in an Oireachtas report to be published before the end of the month.
In particular the report, from the Oireachtas sub-committee on justice, will address the issue of dealing with anti-social behaviour through these structures.
Committee member Joe Costello TD criticised plans by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). He said these orders, in use in Britain since 1999, were "confrontational" and criminalised young offenders unnecessarily.
"The report will be recommending the setting up of new structures for community policing between local authorities and the local community. They will largely be dealing with anti-social behaviour, low-grade nuisance offences which don't come to the higher courts."
Joint policing forums would be located in every local authority area with representation from the Garda, community groups, and businesses as well as from the health board, he said. They would meet regularly and invite the public. "The forums would come back every few months and tot up what the response has been, whether issues have been properly dealt with - whether that be increased lighting, evictions, drug dealing.
"These issues would be dealt with in a joint way, with all groups working to prevent anti-social behaviour within the area of their local authority's remit."
Community policing had been the "Cinderella" of the Garda, said Mr Costello, lacking resources, promotional prospects and status within the force. "It is important to keep the gardaí on board in a real partnership with the community."
Dublin City Council, in particular, he said, was "very much in favour" of community policing forums.
Mr Costello said the committee would be advocating a "holistic approach, involving everyone" to resolving juvenile crime. It would not recommend the introduction of ASBOs. These would thwart the committee's preferred "restorative justice" approach to dealing with youth crime.
Referring to the Criminal Justice Bill, Mr Costello said he expected "some of our proposals would be incorporated into the legislation currently before the Dáil at second stage".
