Vol. 528 No. 2
212 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the towns which will receive funding from his Department to facilitate the installation of closed circuit television; and the amount available to each of these towns. [30084/00]
I recently announced an expansion of Garda CCTV systems. As part of the first tranche, Garda CCTV systems are to be installed in the following areas: Athlone, Bray, Clondalkin, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Tallaght. At least a further six areas will commence in 2003 and they will be announced in due course. It is anticipated that the ten CCTV systems referred to above will be installed in the period 2001-2002. While these Garda systems will be funded by my Department, co-funding will also be a feature of them and will be addressed when detailed costings are available and before work on the installation of the CCTV systems commences.
I am also conscious that some applications for CCTV systems that have been received by the advisory committee relate to relatively small schemes which, while of importance to the local community, cannot be regarded as a national Garda priority. I have given careful consideration to how assistance can be provided to areas which are not rated as a high level Garda priority. To this end, I plan to introduce a grant scheme in 2001 to cater for those communities who would like to press ahead on their own with a local CCTV system. It will be up to the local interests to install and monitor the CCTV schemes. However, grant assistance will be provided. To qualify for grant aid, certain minimum standards will have to be met and the gardaí will have to be allowed access to the system when and as they require it. Local authorities will have an important role to play. The details of this new scheme are being finalised and full details of the scheme, including relevant conditions and grant levels, will be announced early in the new year.
A total of £12 million has been allocated to the installation of CCTV systems – both Garda and local community – nationwide over the next three years – with £4 million being allocated in 2001. Following an initial assessment of each area by the Garda authorities, a detailed request for tender document will be drawn up setting out the specifications for each system-area in order to allow a competitive tendering process, in line with EU and public procurement guidelines, to be held. The completed tenders must then be evaluated before contracts can be placed.
