Mary Upton
Ceist:225 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the provision of closed circuit television to Ballyfermot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5904/03]
Written Answers - Closed Circuit Television.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that Ballyfermot is one of 17 locations set to receive new Garda CCTV systems over the next two years, subject to the availability of funds. The other locations, in alphabetical order, are: Athlone, Bray, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Ennis, Finglas, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford.
I am also informed that planning for the installation of a CCTV system for Ballyfermot is scheduled to commence later this year.
Mary Upton
Ceist:226 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications received under the grant-aid scheme for community based closed circuit television; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/03]
My Department has received a significant number of expressions of interest – in excess of 150 – in the community-based CCTV scheme which was launched to facilitate community based groups who wish to install their own local CCTV system. Grant assistance of up to €100,000 will, subject to the availability of funds, be obtainable from my Department towards the cost of such schemes.
A prospectus has been prepared by my Department which provides information on how to apply for grant-aid funding, outlines the application process and identifies the main issues that applicants will need to consider. Copies of this prospectus are available upon request from my Department's Garda (Administration) Division.
A code of practice, drawn up in co-operation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and detailed technical specifications, drawn up by the Garda Síochána, are almost complete. When both the code of practice and the technical specifications have been finalised my Department will issue a copies of same to all communities who expressed an interest in the community-based CCTV scheme and any applications subsequently received will be evaluated and processed.