Community Alert Programme

The Community Alert Programme is a community-based initiative in rural communities  dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in rural communities by:

• crime prevention
• neighbourliness and self-reliance
• general community safety and well-being
• accident prevention
• promotion of personal safety
• having an anti-poverty focus awareness of social inclusion
  

The programme was set up in 1985 and there are 1,300 Community Alert groups nationwide. It is operated by Muintir na Tíre in partnership with An Garda Síochána. This relationship is formalised in a memorandum of understanding between both organisations for the development and operation of the programme.

The Department of Justice and Equality provides funding for the programme. Additional support is provided by the Department of Health and Children.

The current Community Alert Programme strategy, which sets out the priorities for the organisation for the years 2007–2011, was launched by the Minister for Justice and Equality in October 2007.