Paddy McHugh
Question:227 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if funding will be approved for the provision of closed circuit television equipment in Tuam, County Galway. [13074/03]
Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.
Paddy McHugh
Question:228 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if funding will be approved for a community based closed circuit television project in Tuam, County Galway; the total amount of funding available for such projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/03]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that no application has been received from local Garda management by the CCTV advisory committee, that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate CCTV applications, in respect of Tuam. If such an application is received it will be processed in the normal manner and the advisory committee will make recommendations on the completion of its deliberations.
The following criteria are used by the committee when assessing an application: crime-disorder statistics in an area; population and level of activity of centre; post and local contributions as evidence of commitment of partnership arrangements; recommendations of local Garda management; and special circumstances – needs.
Separately, my Department has received significant – in excess of 150 – expressions of interest in the related 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 are available, on request, from the Garda administration division of my Department.
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 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.