Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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513. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding text alert rebates (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15162/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Community Alert funding is allocated by my Department for the employment and associated costs of the national Community Alert programme, including the employment of regional Development Officers. These Development Officers, operating in Muintir Na Tíre, provide support to Community and Text Alert schemes and offer advice on how to establish new schemes. The long-standing view has been that this is the best use of the resources available to them.

On 2 January 2018, I announced that my Department would be providing an additional €50,000 in financial support to Community Text Alert groups as a further measure in this Government's support to Crime Prevention. This is in addition to the €100,000 which I already announced at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2017. I also extended the time period for applications under the 2017 Text Alert Rebate Scheme to 31st January 2018 and rebate payments under that Scheme have now commenced and all approved applicant groups will receive their rebate in the coming weeks.

The Deputy will appreciate that supporting documentation is often required when applying for particular sources of funding. This is a standard practice and good financial governance especially when dealing with public money. I understand that a very small number of groups have encountered difficulties with the application process but Muintir na Tire, as the administrators of the Text Alert Scheme, have been working with these groups to assist them with the applications insofar as possible.