James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the grants available for neighbourhood watch groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not provide direct funding towards the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

However, at the National Ploughing Championships last September, I announced details of the 2018 Text Alert Rebate Scheme, which was available to over 1,000 local groups registered under the Garda Text Alert Scheme, including many Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch Groups.  My Department committed in the region of €150,000 to local communities who wish to apply for a rebate towards the costs associated with running their local Text Alert Scheme, which is administered by Muintir na Tíre. This is a continuation of the annual funding made available by my Department for the Text Alert Rebate scheme in 2016 (€100,000) and 2017 (€150,000).

More generally, I can advise the Deputy that my Department has for many years provided funding to Muintir Na Tíre 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.