Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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655. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the allocation towards the establishment of community safety programmes or text alert schemes. [38447/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities. This is an essential feature of the strong community policing ethos which has long been central to policing in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will be aware that as part of the overall strategy to oppose criminality, the Garda authorities pursue a range of partnerships with community stakeholders, for example, the well-established Community Alert Programme and the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme to name but a few.

Indeed, for the period 2014-2016, my Department provided in excess of €650,000 to Muintir Na Tíre for the administration of the Community Alert Programme. This funding covers the costs for the national operation of the Programme, including salaries for three of the five Regional Development Officers (the HSE fund the other two). The Development Officers play a key role in supporting the establishment and operation of local Community Alert and Text Alert groups.

It is important to note that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by An Garda Siochana's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Proposed initiatives include the establishment of local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an Inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to proactively work with the community to prevent and detect crime; and the establishment of Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders.

Very important progress has been made under Operation Thor which has led to concentrated Garda activity with more than 80,700 targeted checkpoints nationwide, and in the region of 5,192 arrests connected to a range of offences which, in addition to burglary, have included handling stolen property, possession of firearms and drugs offences. Operation Thor has particularly targeted mobile gangs engaged in burglary and related crimes and it is encouraging to note that since the launch of the operation in November 2015, the burglary figures have shown a significant downward trend. Decreases of 30% in burglary were recorded in 2016 when compared to same period in 2015. This reflects the success of the concerted Garda drive against crime being implemented under Operation Thor.

Furthermore, Garda crime prevention and awareness measures under Operation Thor are complemented by the doubling of the funding being provided to support Community Crime Prevention, including Community Alert and Crimestoppers. Community partnership has been particularly evident in the success of the Garda Text Alert scheme. Since it was launched in September 2013, it has developed as an important crime prevention mechanism with over 700 local groups involving in excess of 130,000 subscribers and with an estimated 200,000 text messages sent each month under the scheme. Every Garda Division, rural and urban, now offers the text alert service and An Garda Síochána has published guidelines to assist in the establishment and operation of local groups.

In September 2016, a new Text Alert rebate scheme, operated by Muintir na Tire, was launched which provided a rebate for local groups operating the Garda Text Alert scheme, including many Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch groups. In response to that announcement, in the region of 473 valid applications were received from Text Alert Groups and all applicants have been paid in full.

I can assure the Deputy that funding for crime prevention initiatives remain under continuing review by the Department of Justice and Equality.