Vol. 566 No. 2
188 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will approve funding for a community based CCTV project in Roscommon town; the total budget currently available for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12508/03]
My Department has received expressions of interest from Roscommon Chamber of Commerce and Roscommon County Council in the community-based CCTV scheme which was launched to facilitate community based groups who wish to install their own local CCTV system. Grant assistance of up to €100,000 will, subject to the availability of funds, be obtainable from my Department towards the cost of such schemes. 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 were made available, on request, to both Roscommon Chamber of Commerce and Roscommon County Council.
A code of practice, drawn up in co-operation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and detailed technical specifications, drawn up by the Garda Síochána, are almost complete. When both the code of practice and the technical specifications have been finalised my Department will issue a copies of same to all communities who expressed an interest in the community-based CCTV scheme and any applications subsequently received will be evaluated and processed.
