Gerry Reynolds
Question:240 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding, if any, he will provide in 1999 for the provision of closed circuit television for Sligo. [11949/99]
Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.
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 31 applications, including one from Sligo. 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 staffing and budgetary resources permit. A sum of £700,000 has been provided for in the Garda vote for the installation of Garda CCTV systems in 1999. This figure does not include any provision for Sligo as this application is still one of many currently under consideration.
Funding for Garda CCTV systems is normally provided jointly by local community interests and my Department. 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 for a Garda CCTV system must also be prepared in co-operation with the local Garda district and divisional officers and receive their full support.
Gerry Reynolds
Question:241 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the priority list of cities and towns which will be provided with closed circuit television in the next three years. [11950/99]
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.
In addition to these six prioritised locations, there are also in excess of 25 other applications currently under consideration. While it is anticipated that further systems will be scheduled in due course as staffing and budgetary resources permit, I am not in a position to say when this will be. There is a shortage of technicians in the telecommunications section of the Garda Síochána which is impacting on the progress in implementing CCTV systems. I am having this problem addressed as a matter of urgency through the recruitment of a significant number of additional technicians and the recruitment process is actually under way at present. However given recruitment-selection procedures and training etc, realistically it will be some months before they will be available to commence work on existing or new projects in the telecommunications area, including CCTV.
It is also only fair to say, in this regard, that the commitment to existing schemes as well as those on the priority list, limits the scope for the extension of Garda CCTV systems to other areas at the present time.