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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

499 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to ensure an application and submission from Mullingar for the installation of closed circuit television is approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7869/02]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Mullingar has been considered by the advisory committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate these applications.

Following careful consideration of all the available information in relation to the application for Mullingar, the advisory committee formed the opinion that it did not meet the current criteria for the installation of a Garda CCTV system. Consequently it declined to recommend the installation of a CCTV system there at this point in time. Therefore, it is not proposed to install a CCTV system in Mullingar.

The application will be kept under review. If the Deputy has any information that he wishes to put forward in support of the application he should send this to my Department and arrangements will be made to bring it to the attention of the advisory committee.

Applications for Garda CCTV systems are assessed by the advisory committee on the basis of Garda operational needs. Assessment criteria include: crime-public order statistics in the area; population and level of activity there; the recommendation of local Garda management and any special circumstances-needs that exist and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system on the area. Co-funding is a feature of Garda CCTV systems. This is usually addressed when it has been decided to install a CCTV system in an area.

I am conscious that some applications for CCTV systems that have been received by the advisory committee relate to 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. While it will be up to the local interests to install and monitor the CCTV schemes grant assistance will be provided.

To qualify for grant aid certain minimum standards must be met. The Garda must be allowed access to the system when and as they require it. Local authorities will play an important role. The details of this new scheme are currently being finalised. Full details of the scheme, including rel evant conditions and grant levels, will be announced soon.
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