Clashmore & Kinsalebeg Community Alert Groups
There are two separate Community Alert groups for both sides of the parish Clashmore and Kinsalebeg with both maintaining text alert groups which alert residents to any local security concerns.
Community Alert is a community safety programme for rural areas with an emphasis on older and vulnerable people. It operates as a partnership between the community, An Garda Síochána and Muintir na Tíre. It works on the principle of shared responsibility for crime prevention and reduction.
The Aims of the Community Alert Programme:
- To foster the process of community development
- To reduce opportunities for crimes to occur
- To unite communities in a spirit of neighbourliness and community service
- To devise programmes to improve the quality of life for all in rural communities
Most recent Minutes of Kinsalebeg Community Alert Group
Monday 12th March 2018
Liam Daly , chairperson, welcomed everybody to the March meeting.
15 representatives attended the meeting. Apologises were received from Robert Anthony, Ger Byrne, Paul Fitzgerald and Martin Flynn.
Garda Colm O’Callaghan reported that the severe weather conditions had resulted in less crime as travelling was so difficult. Some holiday homes have been broken into. Since the houses are unoccupied it is difficult to be sure when these crimes take place. It is advised not to leave cars with the keys in them outside homes. Some robberies of 4×4 have occurred when people have left their keys in the ignition for a very short time. This is happening outside their homes. There is a constant gardai presence checking car registrations and traffic movements. Garda Colm said it was great to see how the community worked together clearing the roads and checking on their vulnerable neighbours.
The church gate collection raised €304.10. the Parish Council have decided that we will be given the hall for free. Waterford County Council will provide a grant for the Community Alert signs. All good news for our financial situation.
Bertie Hallahan spoke to Seamus Donnolly from Waterford County Council about the lighting at the church. He said that the Council would fund and put up additional LED lights. This should help with the security problem at Mass times also.
Garry Kelly reported that we used to have 160 people on our text alert. Since we introduced an annual €5 payment this number has reduced to 80.
A brief discussion took place regarding the register of vulnerable people in the area. This is a register which the gardai would hold. It would alert the gardai to the next of kin and key holders for those vulnerable people. The register is self selecting. It is hoped that Garda Christine Keniry would come to the next meeting to explain the concept. Terry asked if ambulances and the gardai were able to use Eircode to identify the location of emergencies. Garda Colm said it will be 2020 before the gardai will be able to do this.
The annual clean up of our parish will take place on Saturday 7th of April. Bags , gloves and high vis jackets will all be available. Waterford Co Council will take away any rubbish collected. Sam Garvey will do posters to publicise the event.
The next meeting will be Monday 14th May in the hall at 8pm