Seamus Kirk
Question:73 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to provide further resources for the Neighbourhood Watch scheme and the community alert scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12900/96]
Written Answers. - Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert Schemes.
The community alert and Neighbourhood Watch initiatives provide a very valuable vehicle for community involvement, protection for the elderly and crime prevention and I am committed to doing what I can to advance them. In fact, I have initiated a special review of them in the context of the recent report of the task force on the security of the elderly approved by Government on 20 March, which recommended that "a comprehensive evaluation and assessment be carried out on all the various community based initiatives to ensure that all areas of the country are adequately covered and that the question of the provision of appropriate funding be examined to ensure that these initiatives can be placed on a secure footing".
Following a review of the community alert scheme last year, I decided to provide £50,000 to Muintir na Tíre this year to encourage an expansion and development of their network of schemes. Neighbourhood Watch, on the other hand, is a community based Garda crime prevention programme and a great deal of Garda resources are already involved in it. I would have no difficulty in seeking additional resources for Neighbourhood Watch if the Garda authorities required them.