merrion street

  ·    €100,000 available for local communities in 2017 towards the cost of
     running local Text Alert Schemes


  ·    €1m also available to establish community-based CCTV schemes over
     each of the next three years


The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has today
announced that his Department will be providing additional financial
support to Community Text Alert Groups in 2017 as the latest measure in its
support of crime prevention in rural communities. The Rebate Scheme, which
also ran in 2016, will allow Text Alert Groups registered with An Garda
Síochána to apply for funding to contribute towards their yearly running
costs.


Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly,
Minister Flanagan said: "I am delighted to announce details of the 2017
Text Alert Rebate Scheme which will be available to almost 1000 local
groups registered under the Garda Text Alert Scheme. My Department will be
making in the region of €100,000 available to local communities who wish to
apply for a rebate towards the costs associated with running their local
Text Alert Scheme. We are also assisting in the prevention and detection of
local crime through the recently announced grant-aid scheme to assist the
establishment of community-based CCTV systems. This scheme will run for 3
years, with up to €1million being made available for each year of the
scheme to assist local communities – the application process is open and I
urge communities to look into this, and see if it fits with their needs.
The provision of CCTV schemes will assist in the prevention and reduction
of local crime, disorder and anti-social activity and increase community
involvement to prevent and reduce crime in local areas.  The use of these
technologies will help in the fight against rural crime.”


Minister Flanagan continued: "The Government's response to crime, and to
burglaries in particular, has focussed on two key objectives: investing in
the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle criminals and enforce the law
effectively; and updating and strengthening the law where necessary. As a
representative of and a native of a strongly rural constituency, I
understand and appreciate the impact that Text Alert Groups and
community-based CCTV systems can have in local areas. They are a perfect
example of citizens working in tandem with their local Gardaí to provide a
safer community for all those who live there. This type of work is
beginning to pay off, CSO figures for 2016 show that we had a 30% drop in
burglaries. Let no one have any doubt about the commitment of An Garda
Siochána and this Government to ensure that we tackle crime in this
country. My Department is available to help local groups in both rural and
urban areas to apply for this important funding.  These schemes allow new
technologies to fuse with the traditional value of active community
engagement all around Ireland."

The Minister continued:

“I am very conscious that the improvements to our road network have
sometimes been seen as a boon for mobile criminal gangs.  Recognising this,
further support is being provided to communities through the unprecedented
investment in the Garda fleet in recent years. The Capital Plan 2016 to
2021 provides for investment of €46million in the fleet, this is in
addition to the investment of almost €30million in the period 2013 to 2015.
In the period 2013 to the end of 2017, almost €44million will have been
invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that
period. This investment has allowed Gardaí to carry out special targeted
patrols against criminals committing crime inter-regionally, including a
focus on the use of motorways by criminal gangs, so as to disrupt and
arrest those involved. Garda numbers are also continuing to increase with a
new class of Gardaí graduating this week from Templemore.”

Other rural crime measures deployed by the Gardaí include initiatives to
tackle the theft of metal including electrical cables, the theft of farm
equipment and the theft of livestock. Minister Flanagan concluded: “Gardaí
have cooperated with Crimestoppers to make sure that people know there are
help lines that they can call and I urge anyone with concerns about crime
in rural areas to call the confidential Crimestoppers number 1800 25 00
25.”

Note for editors

The Community Text Alert Groups rebate scheme will once again be operated
by Muintir na Tíre and details of how to apply for the Scheme are now
available on their website www.muintir.ie. The funding for Community Text
Alert Groups made available this year will be reviewed again in 2018, in
conjunction with An Garda Síochána, as the Government continues to support
crime-prevention measures in communities.


The provision of a community-based CCTV scheme was a Programme for
Government commitment and also an action point contained in the Action Plan
for Rural Development. Applications under the scheme can be made to the
Department of Justice and Equality. The application form and explanatory
material are available for download on www.justice.ie. Eligible community
groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a
proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval of
the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50% of the
grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational.


Muintir na Tíre will also be launching a new app called ‘Cairde’ in
conjunction with An Garda Siochana at the National Ploughing Championships.
Cairde enables communities, and individuals within communities, to
communicate effectively. It incorporates many practical tools such as the
ability to receive Garda Text Alerts, and includes a panic button function
which can monitor responses in real time.