Vol. 531 No. 5
6 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason video equipment is in place in only 11 Garda stations in view of the fact that in early August 1999 he stated that by February 2001 video recording equipment would be in operation in 200 stations across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6196/01]
103 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason video equipment is in place in only 11 Garda stations when in early August 1999 he stated that by February 2001 video recording equipment would be in operation in 200 stations across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6276/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 103 together.
I have replied to questions on this matter on a number of occasions previously, most recently on 7 February 2001. The position is that the Garda authorities have indicated that their requirements will be met by the installation of audio-video equipment in approximately 220 interview rooms. The number of Garda stations involved will be in the region of 150. Interview rooms in all the relevant stations have to be refurbished to cater for the new facilities. A substantial amount of work has already been undertaken on this operation.
Tenders were received last October for the supply of the specialised recording equipment. As I explained on previous occasions, completion of the evaluation of the tenders and placing a contract with a supplier was delayed due to problems encountered by the Garda authorities with the equipment submitted by suppliers during the evaluation process. In the circumstances, I expect that delivery and installation of the equipment in the remaining selected stations will commence in April and be completed before the end of the year.
How many stations will be fitted out with the appropriate equipment and will the equipment be up and running by 31 December?
I am happy real progress is being made in this matter. I am hopeful the stations will be fitted out by the end of the year. That is as far as I can put it. There were difficulties regarding the equipment. Work must be done on the rooms in question. There are the matters of sound proofing, lighting, satisfactory recordings and videos. I am hopeful the job will be done by the end of the year.
Will the Minister tell the House whether this equipment is still only functioning in 11 Garda stations? Has there been movement of any nature in recent weeks? Is the Minister in a position to tell the House in how many Garda stations will the equipment be operating by the end of June? Is there a timeframe for the completion of this work?
There was a timeframe for it, which was not met. I was disappointed about that because of the tendering process and the difficulties that arose. I can say what the position is now, but not what it will be by 1 June or end June. At least 39 rooms have been fitted out, work is 98% completed in another 28 rooms and 75% completed in another 15 rooms, and the work in the remainder is less advanced. We have made significant progress in recent months.
Will the Minister acknowledge it is unacceptable that he told this House on 15 November last that 130 rooms would be fitted out by end of March, that he told us on 7 February there was a delay but that work on all rooms would be completed by the end of this year and now he can give us no interim date for the equipping of the number of required rooms, 220? Will he accept that the charge made against him and his Department by the Attorney General that he is guilty of foot dragging on this matter is valid?
The Attorney General did not say that I or my Department were foot dragging on this issue.
He accused the gardaí of foot dragging.
Nobody has been foot dragging on it.
Why is the work not done?
I explained there were logistical reasons this matter was not progressed as quickly as everyone would have wished.
What does that mean?
We are trying to ensure that all the stations are fitted out as quickly as possible. I admit earlier deadlines were not met and I apologise for that. I explained why that did not happen and I am as disappointed as everybody else about it. However, I envisage that all the relevant stations will be fitted out by the end of the year. There should then be a procedure where people's statements will be recorded and filmed. This will be in the greater interest of the Garda Síochána and individuals accused of offences.
Will the Minister give the House the original cost of the fitting out and provision of video recording in the stations detailed? Will he indicate if the delay has resulted in a cost overrun and, if so, the extent of the projected overrun? Does the Minister accept that the difficulties detailed by him indicate a total management failure in ensuring that the works required and promised were completed within the original time frame as detailed?
Will the Minister give an account of the position to date regarding the places where video equipment has been installed and how much it is being used?
The intention is that as the equipment becomes available, it will be utilised. If people are arrested in stations where the equipment is available, it will be used. It will be compulsory for a person to co-operate with the Garda in this respect. I do not have details of the overall cost with me. However, I will communicate it to Deputy Shatter at the earliest possible opportunity.
Have the costs substantially increased?
I do not accept that there was any mismanagement of this matter. I am satisfied there were logistical reasons for it not happening. I am as disappointed as everybody else about it. The bona fides of the Garda Síochána and the Department must be apparent to everybody; otherwise we would not have embarked on this venture.
Have the costs increased?
The Minister promised to send me the costings. Perhaps he would look at that again.
