Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 2

Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

618 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when closed circuit television will be installed in Drogheda, County Louth; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am advised by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system for Drogheda is currently under consideration by the advisory committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate CCTV applications. The advisory committee are also considering applications from other cities and towns throughout the country. When this process is completed, they will submit their recommendations to me and I will then decide on the matter.

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 and any special circumstances or needs that exist and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system on 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.

The Deputy may wish to note that the number of Garda CCTV systems are to be extended. As part of the first tranche of this expansion, CCTV systems are to be installed in Athlone, Bray, Clondalkin, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway, Limerick, Tallaght and Waterford. Contracts have been placed in respect of the town centre CCTV systems for Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick. It is intended that these CCTV systems will be installed and operational by the end of 2002. The planning in respect of the town centre CCTV systems for Athlone, Clondalkin, Tallaght and Waterford is well advanced and it is expected that tenders will be invited via the EU Journal and the national newspapers soon. Work on installing systems in a further seven areas – Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Ennis, Kilkenny and Sligo – will commence in 2003. This will bring the number of areas where Garda CCTV systems are to be extended to by 2003 to 17 in all.

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. To this end, a grant scheme was announced last month to facilitate community based groups who wish to press ahead with their own local CCTV system. Grant assistance of up to €100,000 will be available from my Department towards the cost of such schemes. It will be up to the community groups, in conjunction with the relevant local authority to install, maintain and monitor the community based CCTV schemes. To qualify for grant aid, certain minimum standards will have to be met and the gardaí will have to be allowed access to grant aided systems as and when they require it. A prospectus has been prepared by my Department which provides information on how to apply for grant-aid funding, outlines the application process and identifies the main issues that applicants will need to consider. Copies of this prospectus are available upon request from the Garda administration division of my Department.