Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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50. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community policing forums in existence here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6480/17]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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51. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which community policing forums here are funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6481/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.

An Garda Síochána engages with many local structures including statutory fora such as Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) and Local Policing Fora established by JPCs as well as more informal community based groups, including Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch groups throughout the country.

I can advise the Deputy that my Department does not provide funding for community policing forums, but it does provide significant financial support for the national and regional operation of the Community Alert programme. Indeed, the funding provided by my Department for Community Crime Prevention initiatives, including the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme, has more than doubled in recent years. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have asked the Garda authorities for further information in relation to the matters which he has raised and I will contact him directly when this is to hand.