John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking my Commencement matter, which is on a topic of utmost importance. Community groups across the length and breadth of this country have worked collaboratively with An Garda Síochána to establish community text alert schemes, which I know he is very supportive of.

Data published last week indicate that there has been a 45% reduction in burglaries nationally and, thankfully, my own county of Waterford is in line with the national reduction figure. Great praise must go to An Garda Síochána via Operation Thor as the force has put a concerted effort into targeting criminals who prey on the most vulnerable in our society. However, the community text alert schemes have also proved to be a really important weapon in reducing burglaries, particularly in rural Ireland.

The texts that are often issued by local community text alert schemes ask people to be vigilant and watch out for certain types of vehicles in certain areas or circulate invaluable information about a recent crime that has occurred and ask for the help of the public to assist inquiries. The Garda with whom I interact have said that the schemes are very important in tackling crime and assisting them in solving crimes that occur, particularly in rural Ireland. Regretfully, not enough is being done to support these excellent community groups, who provide an invaluable service to their communities. There is a text rebate scheme whereby up to €350 is provided retrospectively the following year but I do not that amount is nearly enough to support the vital costs incurred when running what I think we will all agree is a vital service, and that situation needs to change, as a matter of urgency.

Recently the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, visited Waterford city and launched the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership Safety Plan 2023-2028 in city hall. On that occasion, I arranged for him to meet two gentlemen who operate the Dunhill and Ballyduff Lower community text alert scheme. The two gentlemen provided a breakdown of the annual costs involved in running the scheme. It costs between €1,100 and €1,500 per year to provide a community text alert scheme. Community groups do not have control over the number of texts that must be issued. The Garda send texts to community groups, which forward the texts to community alert schemes. The cost each year depends on the number of texts that the Garda ask community groups to issue.

Local authorities support community text alert schemes. The local authorities in my own county provide a community grant of upwards of €400 towards all these schemes but such provision does not happen throughout the country. The €350 rebate is made too late the following year for it to be of any use. There are approximately 1,250 community text alert schemes and I fear that we will lose many of them, which would be unacceptable. I have two asks. First, I ask that community text alert groups receive upfront baseline funding of between €750 and €1,000 either via An Garda Síochána or the Department of Justice. Such provision would cost between €1 million and €1.5 million a year but it would be extraordinarily good value for money.

Second, if it is necessary to continue with the retrospective rebate scheme, it could continue to operate to support the costs incurred, and fill the gap between the support that is provided by local authorities and the Department and the cost to the community. I ask the Minister of State to consider my suggestions.