Vol. 465 No. 4
16 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Justice the evaluation, if any, she has made of the pilot surveillance scheme in Temple Bar, Dublin; and if she will approve a similar scheme for Finglas Village, Dublin 11 that was prepared by gardaí and local industrialists, particularly in view of the availability of local contributions to the costs involved. [8263/96]
I have recently received a copy of the Garda evaluation report on the pilot CCTV scheme which has been operating in the Temple Bar area of Dublin since 26 October 1995. The report is a detailed review of all aspects of the system and of its effectiveness during its initial period of operation. It concludes that, in the appropriate locations and under correct conditions, urban CCTV systems can deliver benefits. Certainly CCTV has had a beneficial effect on crime prevention and detection in the Temple Bar area and has led to a number of arrests arising from incidents recorded by the cameras.
Having considered the evaluation report I am satisfied that further CCTV systems will be of benefit to the Garda Síochána in combating crime. The installation of future systems will have to be considered on a priority basis and the O'Connell Street area of Dublin needs to be considered as a first priority. I have asked that a number of other areas, including Finglas, be examined also to establish the feasibility of installing CCTV systems in these areas as an aid to policing.
Before any such schemes can receive public funding they will be subject to specific technical and procedural standards set by the Garda and will be subject to open tendering procedures. The Temple Bar scheme cost in the region of £120,000 and was funded jointly by the Department of Justice and Temple Bar Properties.
