Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Mr. G. Reynolds

The reason I raise this issue is that numerous community organisations in Sligo city have contacted me requesting the Minister to provide a closed circuit television system for Sligo city centre. A couple of weeks ago a high profile person, a member of Westlife, was attacked in Sligo city. This led to numerous media articles highlighting the level of street crime in Sligo and in many other urban areas. Unfortunately, the Sunday Independent ran an article that was deeply hurtful and insulting to the people of Sligo. The article will have done more harm to the image of Sligo city than any other issue. Many people wrote letters of complaint to the Sunday Independent and the excuse given by the editor was that the article was written for humorous reasons. If a front page article in the Sunday Independent that devastates a city's image is considered humorous, I suggest that the editor of this newspaper revisit a dictionary to look up the definition of “humour”.

There has been an increase in the level of street crime in Sligo city over the past number of years but in every urban area of its size, crime levels have also increased. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has built his reputation on a policy of zero tolerance. The provision of CCTV is one of the things that can help gardaí fight street crime in urban centres. Statistics show that where they have been erected, the level of street crime has decreased. For a city and county whose clean image attracts tourists to the area, a closed circuit television system would be a tremendous benefit to the Garda in fighting crime.

The majority of crime takes place at weekends in a small section of Sligo city centre where young people congregate after discos outside fast food outlets. It is difficulty for the Garda to deploy enough manpower to maintain control at those times. The advancing of a CCTV scheme would be benefit the Garda in the fight against crime.

I ask the Minister to provide the necessary funding from his Department for the provision of a CCTV system for Sligo city. I hope I do not receive the same response as last year when the Minister stated a number of areas such as Bray, Cork, Dublin south central, Dundalk, Finglas and Limerick would be prioritised. Sligo is entitled to such a system and I ask the Minister to provide the necessary money as a matter of urgency to help the Garda and local community fight the increasing level of street crime in the city.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I congratulate Deputy Reynolds on his recent elevation to the Fine Gael front bench and I wish him well.

Mr. G. Reynolds

I thank the Minister.

Mr. O'Donoghue

I am a firm believer in CCTV and its benefits. I have seen CCTV systems at work and I have been very impressed. I can well understand why so many towns and communities are seeking Garda CCTV systems for their respective areas. The systems have many beneficial uses, including a general feel good factor that cannot be underestimated. However, I am also aware that Garda CCTV systems are not a panacea for all ills nor a replacement for gardai on patrol. CCTV is an aid to existing Garda resources and, as such, systems must be viewed in the context of overall policing operations and carefully planned and integrated into Garda operational procedures.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that there has been no increase in the number of assaults in Sligo town in the recent past. One highly publicised assault took place on 19 March 2001 and the Garda is following a definite line of inquiry into this assault.

CCTV cameras have already been provided in Dublin city centre – north central and south central – and in Tralee. The combined cost of the CCTV systems in these areas was in excess of £1.8 million. The installation of a CCTV system in Cork city consisting of 29 cameras is being undertaken and its final cost is likely to be in excess of £800,000. The Deputy may also be aware that I announced last November that a total of £12 million was to be allocated towards the installation of CCTV systems nationwide over the next three years, as part of the Garda CCTV expansion programme, with £4 million being allocated in 2001. An application for a Garda CCTV system in Sligo town is being considered in the context of this programme.

As part of the first tranche of the expansion programme, Garda CCTV systems are to be installed in the following areas – Athlone, Bray, Clondalkin, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Tallaght. At least a further six areas will commence in 2003 and they will be announced in due course. It is anticipated that these ten CCTV systems will be installed in the period 2001-02. While these Garda systems will be funded by my Department, co-funding will also be a feature of the systems and will be addressed when detailed costings are available and before work on the installation of the CCTV systems commences.

I am, however, also conscious that some appli cations for CCTV systems that have been received by the advisory committee, that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV Systems, relate to relatively small schemes which, while of importance to the local community, cannot be regarded as a national Garda priority. I have given careful consideration to how assistance can be provided to areas which are not rated as a high level Garda priority. To this end, I plan to introduce a grant scheme soon to cater for those communities who would like to press ahead on their own with a local CCTV system. It will be up to the local interests to install and monitor the CCTV schemes. However, grant assistance will be provided.

Certain minimum standards will have to be met to qualify for grant aid and the Garda will have to be allowed access to the system when and as they require it. Local authorities will have an important role to play. The details of this new scheme are being finalised and full details of the scheme, including relevant conditions and grant levels, will be announced soon.

Sligo has benefited from my Department's budget in recent years. We have been careful to ensure matters such as the courthouse in the town receive attention. I assure the Deputy and his constituents that every consideration will be given to the application by Sligo for a CCTV system.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 April 2001.