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€100,000 available to assist communities to combating crime in rural areas

Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton is encouraging Community Text Alert groups to apply for funding which is available from the Department of Justice through the Rebate Scheme.

“My colleague, Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan TD, will be making approximately €100,000 available under this year’s Rebate Scheme which also ran in 2016. This scheme allows any Community Text Alert Group registered with An Garda Síochána to apply for funding to contribute towards their yearly running costs. As with last year’s scheme Muintir na Tire will be running the rebate scheme and details of how to apply for the rebate are available at www.muintir.ie ”, said Minister Stanton.

“This is the latest initiative from the Department of Justice to try to combat crime in rural areas. Earlier this year, it was announced that €1 million was being made available for community based CCTV schemes over the next three years. 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. I would urge local communities, who have not already done so, to look at the community CCTV scheme.

“The Government’s response to crime and burglaries 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. Further support is being provided to communities through the unprecedented investment in the Garda fleet in recent years.

“The Government’s Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021 provides for investment of €46 million in the Garda fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. This investment has resulted in 2,000 vehicles coming on stream allowing for Gardaí to carry out targeted patrols against criminals committing crime inter-regionally in particular in rural areas. Garda numbers are also continuing to increase with a new class of Gardaí graduating this week from Templemore.”