Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will facilitate making a grant available to communities who wish to set up their own community text alert scheme. [29364/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As part of its Community Policing ethos, An Garda Síochána engages with a wide range of local groups including in excess of 3,700 Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert groups countrywide. The Garda Text Alert Scheme is a particularly successful example of Community Policing in action with over 960 local groups in operation, involving in excess of 164,000 subscribers. I understand that every Garda Division, rural and urban, now offers the Text Alert service. Guidelines for the establishment and operation of such partnership initiatives, including Text Alert groups have been published by An Garda Síochána.

For many years my Department has provided funding for the administration of the Community Alert Programme, including the work of regional development officers who play a key role in helping to establish local groups, including Text Alert Groups. Community Alert operates as a partnership between Muintir na Tire and An Garda Síochána and I was very pleased to secure more than a doubling of the funding available to my Department for such initiatives in 2016.

In addition to the essential funding to support the national and regional administration of Community Alert programme, I was particularly pleased to announce recently the provision of €100,000 for a rebate of costs incurred by local Text Alert Groups in 2016. While the costs of running a Text Alert Group are generally quite modest, it is only right that we recognise the considerable efforts involved in organising such groups and make a contribution to the costs which have, up to now, been borne entirely from voluntary contributions. This funding will cover the cost of approximately 1.6 million text messages for the distribution of important crime prevention and community safety advice. The rebate scheme is available to all Text Alert Groups registered with An Garda Síochána. It is being administered by Muintir na Tire and details of the scheme can be accessed on their website, www.muintir.ie.

I intend to keep the question of funding for local crime prevention initiatives under review with a view to continuing to support Text Alert into the future, and taking into account the views of the Garda authorities.