Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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574. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding available to carry out a pilot project regarding community text alert for an area (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8083/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Following a pilot project, a Text Alert scheme was launched in September, 2013 by An Garda Síochána with the support of a number of existing community networks including Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch, the Irish Farmers Association and related stakeholders. It provides a further mechanism by which An Garda Síochána can provide crime prevention information to community groups, who in turn will forward this information and advice by text or email to all members of the group in the community. Guidelines have been published which, it is expected, will facilitate the expansion of this scheme in 2014.

Guidelines for establishing and operating a Community Text Alert Service have been published and are available on the Garda Website and information and advice on establishing such a scheme is available from local Community Gardaí. Neither my Department nor An Garda Síochána provide funding for the setting up of Text Alert Schemes.