Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

590 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if arrangements will be made to install closed circuit television cameras in Swords, County Dublin; and the areas where closed circuit television cameras have been installed since June 1997. [8583/02]

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

I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Swords has been received by the advisory committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV systems. The application from Swords is currently under consideration, together with applications from other cities and towns throughout the country. Garda CCTV systems are currently in operation in the following areas: Dublin North Central, that is, O'Connell Street and its surrounding areas; Dublin South Central, that is, Grafton Street and its surrounding areas; and Tralee, County Kerry.

A Garda CCTV system is currently being completed in Cork City and I understand, in this regard, that most of the cameras in the system are now fully operational.

The first phase of the Garda CCTV system in Dublin North Central was launched in April 1997. Subsequent phases in this system together with the CCTV systems for Dublin South Central, Tralee and Cork have been installed since June 1997.

The Deputy may also be aware that I announced late in 2000 that the number of Garda CCTV systems was to be extended. As part of the first tranche of this expansion, CCTV systems are to be installed in the following areas: Athlone, Bray, Clondalkin, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Tallaght. It is anticipated that these ten CCTV systems will be installed by the end of 2002. At least a further six areas will commence in 2003 and they will be announced in due course.

Tenders have been sought and received in respect of the town centre CCTV systems for Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick. The evaluation process is in its final stages and I hope to announce the awarding of the contracts shortly, after which work will commence immediately to put the systems in place. The planning in respect of the town centre CCTV systems for Athlone, Clondalkin, Waterford and Tallaght is well advanced and it is expected that tenders will be invited via the EU journal and the national newspapers within the next few months.

I am also conscious that some applications for CCTV systems that have been received by the advisory committee that was established by the Commissioner to evaluate CCTV applications 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. 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 will have to be met and the Garda will have to be allowed access to the system when and as it requires it. Local authorities will have an important role to play. The details of this new scheme are currently being finalised and full details of the scheme including relevant conditions and grant levels will be announced within the next four to six weeks.