Vol. 525 No. 1
172 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to install a closed circuit television monitoring system in south Dublin; the areas for which any monitoring system is planned; when it will be installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23700/00]
The advisory committee established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate CCTV applications has received in excess of 40 applications for the installation of Garda CCTV systems.
Six locations have been prioritised for the installation of such systems. These are, in alphabetical order: Bray, Cork, Dublin South Central, Dundalk, Finglas, and Limerick. The extension of the Garda CCTV system in Dublin south central, which will include Grafton Street and its adjoining areas and the installation of a CCTV system in Cork city, are the CCTV projects currently being undertaken. The order in which the remaining priority locations will be undertaken has not yet been decided – although it is intended to commence the installation of Garda CCTV systems in each of the prioritised locations as soon as possible.
Applications for Garda CCTV systems have been received from the following areas in south Dublin – Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Dún Laoghaire, Ranelagh and Tallaght. These applications are under consideration by the CCTV advisory committee and their recommendations will be submitted to me in due course.
Recently the Garda CCTV system in Dublin north central was increased from 38 to 42 cameras. The CCTV system in Dublin south central, when complete, will result in the cameras in the original Temple Bar area being increased from nine to 24 cameras to cover Grafton Street and its adjoining areas.
All applications for Garda CCTV systems must be prepared in co-operation with the local Garda district and divisional officers and receive their full support. Funding for Garda CCTV systems is normally provided jointly by local community interests and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It has been the experience of the Garda authorities that the cost of an efficient and effective CCTV system is, on average, £20,000 to £25,000 per camera plus an additional amount towards civil works. This additional amount varies according to the availability of ducting.
