Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason her Department reduced the eligible cost per month for the text alert rebate scheme from €350 per annum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6102/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Justice has for many years provided funding for the employment and associated costs of the national Community Alert Programme, including the employment of regional Development Officers. These Development Officers provide support to Community and Text Alert schemes and offer advice on how to establish new schemes.

This year, the Department of Justice has 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 each year since 2016. 

Previously, the Rebate Scheme ran from September to the following August. The Scheme is now moving to a calendar year basis running from January to December. In order to make this adjustment, for this payment cycle, the scheme will cover costs from September 2019 to December 2020. To reflect this, Muintir na Tire sought an increase of the maximum rebate per scheme from €350 to €450 to reflect the additional 4 months from September to December and this request has been granted.