Tipperary safety partnership looks to modernise Community Alert system
The Tipperary Local Community Safety Partnership is developing a three-year safety plan
Tipperary's new Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) has identified the future of the county's Community Alert network as a key area of focus, with members agreeing that the long-running system may need to be modernised to reflect changing technology and communication habits.
The issue arose during the partnership's March meeting, where members received a presentation from Muintir na Tíre's Rosie Palmer on the Community Alert and Text Alert schemes. During the discussion, members agreed that the system should be reviewed and updated using newer technology.
The discussion also highlighted concerns around the increasing use of community WhatsApp groups. Superintendent Liam McGraynor told members that urgent incidents should continue to be reported through emergency channels and cautioned that information shared in local WhatsApp groups is not automatically available to An Garda Síochána.
The meeting also heard details regarding the 2025 edition of ‘Samhain Festival’ in Tipperary Town. Members were told how a hugely successful safety programme was developed for the 2025 edition following anti-social behaviour issues in the James Connolly Park and Three Drives areas of the town during 2024’s Halloween event. The initiative combined community engagement, planning and youth-focused activities aimed at providing positive outlets for young people while helping to reduce opportunities for anti-social behaviour.
Following the presentation, members discussed how similar initiatives could be supported elsewhere in the county. The conversation focused on funding opportunities, event planning, stakeholder engagement and the importance of providing activities for young people beyond major community events.
The LCSP is currently developing a three-year Community Safety Plan for County Tipperary and has recently launched an online public survey as part of its consultation process. The survey asks residents about how safe they feel in the areas where they live, work, socialise and exercise, while also seeking views on issues such as anti-social behaviour, road safety, lack of Garda presence, poor lighting, fraud and other community safety concerns.
The survey remains open to the public online on the Tipperary County Council website, with responses set to help identify priority actions for the county's future Community Safety Plan.
The partnership has already begun engaging with community groups, including workshops with Comhairle na nÓg and other youth organisations. Further public consultation events and stakeholder workshops are planned in the coming months, with feedback from these engagements, together with the online survey, set to shape the county's future Community Safety Plan and identify priority actions for the partnership and its member organisations.
Partnership meetings are not currently open to the media, in line with guidance from the National Office for Community Safety. However, a public meeting involving both members of the public and the media is planned for later this year, with details expected to be announced in the coming months.