Mr. Niall Garvey:

I should point out that the Minister announced we would receive an increase in funding in the coming year, and we are grateful for that. Something needs to be done in funding the wider programme and community groups. It is just over two years since the text alert programme was formally launched. Many groups at the time would have raised funds for the initial costs for signage, insurance and the first batch of texts. That funding has now run out as, generally speaking, they purchased approximately two years of texts. They now have to go back to people in the community to raise funds again. That is causing difficulty for groups.

The costs are small. It costs an average of five cent to six cent per text and most groups would only receive a text every couple of weeks. An allocation of hundreds of euro to a group rather than thousands would make a big difference. It would make them feel recognised, as they are assisting the Garda and, to a certain extent, doing that work for their own benefit. There should be some recognition and even a small gesture would go a long way.