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 that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV systems. The application from Portlaoise is currently under consideration – together with applications from other cities and towns throughout the country.
As part of the Garda CCTV expansion programme, a total of £12 million has been allocated towards the installation of CCTV systems nationwide over the next three years, with £4 million being allocated this year. As part of the first tranche, Garda CCTV systems are to be installed in the following ten locations – 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.