Details of the Text Alert Rebate Scheme 2018

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, has today announced that his Department will again be providing additional financial support to Community Text Alert Groups in 2018, continuing this Government’s support for crime prevention in rural communities. The Rebate Scheme, which also ran in 2016 & 2017, will allow Text Alert Groups registered with An Garda Síochána to apply for funding to contribute towards their yearly running costs.　

 

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. 

 

Meanwhile, Muintir na Tire will be launching Cairde, its new mobile app, at the Ploughing Championships 2018. Demonstrations will be held (stand 275, block 2, row 13) at 4pm on Thursday and Friday.

 

For Community Alert groups, apps such as Cairde represent the future. Cairde deals with many of the frustrations that groups may have experienced as part of the Community Text Alert Scheme, which was constrained by technology. For example: 

While Text Alert has operated well on constrained technology, cost has limited its use. With Cairde, there is an annual subscription similar to what members already pay, but usage is unlimited thereafter. This will encourage more communication between An Garda Síochána and the public. For example, it will enable the Gardaí not just to issue alerts, but to issue follow-up feedback. 

 

While Cairde justifies itself for Text Alert alone, it can do so much more. For example, it has a panic button feature, which can be used in an emergency to send a panic alert to your Cairde (predefined friends) and the Gardaí. The system monitors and co-ordinates all responses. Both the person and all those responding to the alert will be continually informed about who is coming and how far away they are, until the issue is resolved. This means nobody feels isolated or alone while dealing with emergency situations.  

 

Further details are available at www.cairdeapp.ie