John Curran
Question:
235. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda CCTV applications that have been made to date; the number of approvals and draw downs of funding for the scheme to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/18]
View answer
The Deputy will be aware that CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct but complementary categories, namely Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Neither type of CCTV system may be established without authorisation by the Garda Commissioner under section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, among other requirements.
Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no role in that regard.
I understand the Deputy to refer to Garda CCTV systems rather than community-based CCTV systems. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 235 for answer on 12 July 2018 regarding the number of Garda CCTV applications that have been made to date. The Deputy will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact him again when the information was available. I wish to apologise sincerely for the long delay in coming back to him. Obviously the situation in relation to Garda CCTV applications has changed much in the interim period and I am including the most up-to-date information in the detail which follows.
As the Deputy will be aware, there has been an unprecedented level of investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The budgetary allocation for An Garda Síochána for 2019 is €1.76 billion. Significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána in terms of the Garda Fleet, ICT infrastructure and the Garda estate.
The Deputy will be aware that CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access fall into two distinct but complementary categories, namely Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems.
Community CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI No 289 of 2006).
This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee; have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner; and have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data controller.
This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of how they are funded.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems. In furtherance of this commitment, a grant-aid scheme to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas is being administered by my Department. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities, can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum total of €40,000.
There have to date been 29 applications to the scheme. 20 applications have been approved, involving grant aid totalling more than €500,000.
In terms of the responsibility for data in the context of community CCTV, I can confirm that in establishing the grant-aid scheme, the Department consulted broadly, including with the Office of the Data Protection Commission, An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Attorney General and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). You may also wish to be aware that on 29 November 2018, the Data Protection Commission issued a note (available on its website www.dataprotection.ie ) confirming that there is a legal basis for community based CCTV and that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not introduce new barriers in that regard.
In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of his identified operational demands. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of Garda CCTV systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no role in that regard.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda CCTV systems are established and operated by An Garda Síochána under the Section 38 (3)(a) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended. These cameras are maintained and, where required, repaired locally using a number of specialist companies who address and resolve any intermittent faults which may occur.
The Garda authorities have informed me that the budgetary allocation for Garda CCTV systems has been €2,354,000 for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019.
I trust this information is of assistance.
