Vol. 538 No. 1
205 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will approve the submission seeking the provision of a closed circuit television system in Portlaoise; if he will give special consideration to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17385/01]
206 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received an application through the Closed Circuit Television Advisory Committee proposing the erection of closed circuit television at Portlaoise, County Laois; and if he will agree to the submission for Portlaoise being given priority regarding the siting of the new midlands prison in the town. [17411/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Portlaoise town has been received by the advisory committee which was established by the Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV systems. The application from Portlaoise is currently under consideration – as indeed are applications from other cities and towns throughout the country.
Applications for Garda CCTV systems are assessed by the advisory committee on the basis of Garda operational needs and include the following criteria: crime/public order statistics in the area; population and level of activity there; the recommendation of local Garda management; any special circumstances/needs that exist; and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system to that area. Co-funding is a feature of Garda CCTV systems and this is usually addressed when it has been decided to install a Garda CCTV system in an area.
