Text Alert group should apply for funds

FERGUS O’Dowd, TD for Louth and East Meath, has encouraged local community text alert groups in Louth to apply for the much needed Government funding.

The Department of Justice and equality has announced it will be providing additional financial support to these invaluable local groups 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.

Deputy O’Dowd said: ‘ My Fine Gael colleague, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan TD, 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.

‘I know many communities here in Louth are very active in using the system for crime prevention and I would like to commend the excellent work of the people involved in safeguarding our local communities.

‘I know as well as anyone the positive impact text alert groups are having on rural communities and I have been updating the Minister on the excellent work being done here by locals in tandem with the hard work of the local Garda Síochána.

‘ The Department is also assisting in the prevention and detection of local crime through the recently announced grantaid 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 local communities to look into this, and see if it fits with their needs.