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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Ceisteanna–Questions Priority Questions - CCTV Systems.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

4 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the closed circuit television system will be operational in Bray, County Wicklow; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of cars had their tyres slashed in the town on 6 and 7 April 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11236/01]

As the Deputy may be aware, I announced last November that a total of £12 million was to be allocated towards the installation of CCTV systems nationwide over the next three years as part of the Garda CCTV expansion programme, with £4 million being allocated in 2001. 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.

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that tenders will soon issue, in line with EU and public procurement guidelines, for the provision of town centre CCTV systems in Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick. Tenders received must then be evaluated before any contracts can be placed. While this process will inevitably take time, it is expected that the CCTV system in Bray will be operational during the final quarter of 2001.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that a local town centre CCTV implementation committee will be established by the local chief superintendent in each area where a Garda CCTV system is to be installed. The local chief superintendent will have responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the CCTV sys tem in his or her particular area. The composition of this committee will include representatives of the following: the Garda telecommunications section which will project manage the technical aspects of the system, local crime prevention officers, the ESB, the local authority, the Office of Public Works and local business interests.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 27 cars had their tyres slashed during the night of 6/7 April 2001. The incidents occurred in a number of locations and were not targeted to a particular area. The matter is currently under investigation by the detective unit at Bray and, to date, there are no suspects or motives.

This question was tabled by my colleague, Deputy Timmins. I wish to join with previous speakers in conveying my sympathy to him and his family on the untimely and sad death of his late father, Godfrey Timmins.

Is the Minister in a position to put a timeframe on when the closed circuit TV system will be in operation in Bray? Does he accept the fact that Bray has a serious vandalism problem which can be countered by the provision of a closed circuit TV system as proposed by Deputy Timmins? Could he inform the House that every effort will be made to expedite the tendering process so as to ensure that these cameras will be in operation?

Perhaps the Minister will allow me to refer briefly to a wider issue. What criteria does his Department apply in determining the choice of towns? My own town of Portlaoise, which has a prison population of some significance and a significant crime problem, has applied to the Department for CCTV but the application seems to be in some sort of limbo.

To answer the last question first, there is a Garda committee dealing with the question of prioritising towns for CCTV and that advice is taken on board in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The situation in Bray is that it has been prioritised and I anticipate that we should be in a position to install the system at a relatively early date. A detailed request for tender has been prepared by the Garda telecommunications section and tenders will soon issue. They must then be evaluated before any contracts can be placed and inevitably that will take some time. There is then the question of obtaining way-leaves in respect of buildings where cameras and associated equipment are to be located, and the obtaining of the necessary planning permission must also be undertaken.

With regard to the crime problem in Bray to which Deputy Flanagan referred, he will be aware that recorded crime levels have fallen for each year this Government has held office and that last year, levels of recorded crime fell by almost 5% on the 1999 figure—

That is last night's fiction.

—representing a cumulative fall on the all time high 1995 levels of more than 24%.

Santa Claus is coming and so is the tooth fairy.

Those reductions are unprecedented. There are people who will not want to accept these facts, in other words, when the case is proven they say that the book is wrong.

They are the people suffering crime in the communities.

They do not look at the 1995 figures when their tyres are slashed.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the crime level in Bray has decreased for the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year and that the incident where tyres were slashed was an isolated one.

The situation in regard to Portlaoise is that where an area is not prioritised, I can understand the wish of some people or organisations in a community who may wish to have CCTV installed anyway. I am introducing a scheme whereby grants will be awarded to such organisations where local participation and community involvement are forthcoming.

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