Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
744 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the grant aid available from his Department to enable communities to install closed circuit television systems; his views on whether this is an extremely cost effective way in the reduction of vandalism and crime on the streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11767/04]
View answerIt is not, understandably, possible for the Garda Síochána to install CCTV systems in all areas that have sought them. Some applications for CCTV systems received by the CCTV advisory committee, established by the Garda Commissioner to advise on all matters regarding CCTV systems, 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-aid scheme has been launched to facilitate community-based groups who wish to install their own local CCTV system. 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.
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. Within this cash limit, grants of up to 70% of the total capital cost of the system may be considered. All valid applications received will not be automatically entitled to grant aid. Awards will be at the discretion of the Department, subject to the availability of funds and the number of valid applications received.
It is not possible to determine the actual level of funding that will be available for grant assistance under this scheme. The 2004 CCTV budget is more than €4 million and includes expenditure on the ongoing maintenance of current Garda CCTV schemes as well as the implementation of current and planned schemes.
My Department has received a significant number of expressions of interest — in excess of 200 — in the community-based CCTV scheme. An application prospectus has been prepared by my Department which provides information on how to apply for grant aid, 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 Department's Garda administration division.
A code of practice, drawn up in co-operation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and detailed technical specifications, drawn up by An Garda Síochána, are almost complete. When both the code of practice and the technical specifications have been finalised the Department will issue copies of it to all communities, which expressed an interest in the community-based CCTV scheme and any applications subsequently received will be evaluated and processed.
The value of Garda CCTV systems is principally as an aid to existing Garda resources. CCTV systems must, therefore, be viewed in the context of overall policing operations and carefully planned and integrated into Garda operational procedures. They are not — nor are they intended as a replacement for gardaí on patrol. The systems have also been of proven assistance to the Garda in the identification of suspects, in facilitating a more efficient use of Garda resources and the better management of incidents.
