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Closed-Circuit Television Systems Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Questions (399, 421)

Brian Stanley

Question:

399. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding that was drawn down in respect of community-based CCTV systems in cases in which there is funding from 2017 and 2018. [44964/18]

View answer

Carol Nolan

Question:

421. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for funding made under the rural CCTV scheme; the number approved; the number that have issued since 1 January 2017; and the number of approved applicants that have local match funding in place but have not yet received grant aid. [45444/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 421 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems. In pursuance of this commitment, a grant-aid scheme was launched by my Department in 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of some €1 million being made available each year.

There have to date been 27 applications to the scheme. 20 applications have been approved, with grant aid totalling more than €500,000 approved from the total €1 million available for 2018. A further 4 applications to the scheme are currently being assessed and considered. The remaining 3 applications have been returned to the applicants concerned to enable them to supply the information necessary to qualify for grant aid.

Successful applicants receive an up-front payment of 50% of the grant upon approval of the application; with the balance paid when the system is confirmed to be fully operational.

The Garda authorities inform me that they have paid out in excess of €90,000 in relation to 5 Community CCTV projects, either for the initial 50% payment or balancing payment, based on instructions from my Department. I anticipate that further and substantial grants will be issued shortly in respect of the 14 applications which have recently been approved for grant-aid funding. The successful applicants in the final approved application referred to above have not yet sought to draw down the approved funding.

As I have said in the past, I am keen to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, have the opportunity to take advantage of the availability of this grant aid scheme. Under the scheme, eligible community groups 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. Full details of the grant aid package are available to download from my Department's website www.justice.ie and support and guidance is available to help interested groups to apply for this funding through a dedicated email address communitycctv@justice.ie.

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