Community Alert

1992 saw the setting up of the first Askamore Community Alert group, with the strong local Muintir na Tíre group being helped by Fr. Frank Barron

Pat Doyle, national development officer of Muintir na Tíre and Sgt. Tom Cantwell of Wexford gave a talk and advice on setting up a local Neighbourhood Watch group, which continued its good work locally for many years.

A new Community Alert group then came into being following a public meeting on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007.

Present to oversee matters were Margaret Quinn, regional development officer with Muintir na Tíre, and Gárda Paddy Carley, who is in charge of Community Alert groups in the county.

At the first public meeting, held on Thursday, November 22nd 2007, Superintendant Catherine Kehoe, Gárda Jim Delahunty and Garda Joe Kelly, both liaison gárdaí for this area, attended to outline how they could help. Margaret Quinn of Muintir na Tíre chaired the meeting.

As a result of that meeting, areas were outlined, people in the areas were identified, contacts from the group were appointed to each area and maps of the areas were to be drawn up.

Booklets on crime prevention were distributed to every house in Askamore parish.

Those over 65 were identified and offered grant-aided personal and home protections.

This work continues, with well over 50 people receiving personal alarms, lights for their yards and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The grant scheme is now the Seniors Alert Scheme, details of grant availability and criteria for grant eligibility are below, please contact the Secretary, Mary Donohoe, on 086 1 333 41, or any committee member.

Who is eligible for grant support?

The scheme provides assistance to older people. To be eligible you must be:

• Aged 65 or over and have limited means or resources
• Living alone or with someone who also meets the eligibility criteria
• Living in the area covered by the community group administering the grant support
• Able to benefit from the equipment being supplied
• Willing to maintain contact with the community group

What type of equipment can be supplied?

Grant support is provided towards the cost of purchasing and installing safety and security equipment. Grants are available for:

• Monitored personal alarms
• Monitored smoke detectors
• Monitored carbon monoxide detectors
• External security lights
• Internal emergency lights

Equipment supplied under the scheme remains the property of the community group.

Committee as follows:

Chairperson: Mary Kenny, Ballyconran

Secretary: Mary Donohoe, Brideswell

Treasurer: Stacey Gilbert, Askamore

Eamonn O’Neill, Ballytarsna; Tom Buttle, Ballytarsna; Kay Donohoe, Ballyconran; Mick Kinsella, Castlewhite; Catherine Byrne, Kiltilihane; Larry O’Hara, Donishall; Des Keane, Brideswell; Ann Gilbert, Askamore; Mick Kinsella, Burrow; Andy Keane, Munny; Luke Byrne, Bolinrush.