Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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261. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a newspaper article (details supplied); when the audit by her Department referred to in the article was carried out; the findings of same; if the report will be published; whether public funds were used to pay the award of €43,470 as outlined in the article; the steps she will take to carry out a further audit to clarify the issue in view of the fact that the audit was carried out before the payments were made; if she will continue funding the organisation to manage the community alert and text alert rebate programmes; if not, if she will consider opening the programmes to a competitive tender process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19251/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy. I can inform the Deputy that the audit referenced in the article was commenced by my Department in 2019 and is currently being finalised.

The funding provided by my Department to the organisation referenced in the article is used to support rural communities in the fight against crime and to develop community safety programmes. My Department will continue to provide funding to support rural crime prevention initiatives, including those of this organisation, subject to the work being in line with my Department's strategies and business plans, and that the issues identified in audits or through other sources are addressed.