Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 5

Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Tony Gregory

Question:

190 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has for the installation of closed circuit television in the Ballyfermot area, Dublin 10, as requested by the Ballyfermot Business Watch Group. [28061/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The advisory committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to examine CCTV systems as an aid to policing and to evaluate each application has received in excess of 25 applications for the installation of Garda CCTV systems. At present six locations have been prioritised for the installation of Garda CCTV systems as an aid to policing. The prioritised locations are as follows: Bray, Cork, Dublin south central, Dundalk, Finglas and Limerick. The remaining applications are still under consideration by the committee and it is anticipated that further systems will be scheduled in due course as resources permit. As of yet, no proposal for the Ballyfermot area has been received by the CCTV advisory committee.

Each of the applications will be prioritised with regard to the respective levels of crime in the locations in question and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system on same. Applications are also evaluated from a technical and telecommunications perspective. It is only fair to say, however, that the commitment to existing schemes, as well as those prioritised by the advisory committee, limits the scope for the extension of Garda CCTV systems to other areas at the present time.

Funding for Garda CCTV systems is normally provided jointly by local community interests and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It has been the experience of the Garda authorities that the cost of an efficient and effective CCTV system is, on average, £20,000 to £25,000 per camera. Each application submitted must also be prepared in co-operation with the local Garda district and divisional officers and receive their full support.