Billy Timmins
Ceist:130 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the closed circuit television system for Bray, County Wicklow, will be installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/03]
Other Questions. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.
The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that the construction of the monitoring room and the installation of the necessary monitoring equipment in Bray Garda station has been completed.
The process of obtaining wayleave permission – from the owners of property on which it is planned to erect CCTV equipment or where cables will cross – is being pursued at present and is now almost complete. Following receipt of wayleave from those concerned, the Department will place site and newspaper notices detailing the planned erection of cameras and poles in Bray.
The Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations 2001, require that drawings and particulars of the system be made available for inspection for a period of six weeks at the offices of the Department, the offices of Bray Town Council and at Bray Garda station. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development must be made, in writing, to the Department within this time.
Once this process has been completed, and subject to it, the contractor will be directed to erect poles and camera equipment and connect these to Bray Garda station. It is expected that the installation of the infrastructure and camera equipment will be completed over a period of 20 weeks from completion of the planning process.
I thank the Minister for his reply. The CCTV system for Bray is badly needed particularly in view of the upsurge in crime there in recent months. The Minister of State's ministerial colleague, Deputy Roche, made a statement in March 2001, which I am sure was made in good faith, that the system would be in operation by the end of that year, yet two years later it is still not in place.
I do not dispute anything the Minister of State said in his reply. I note he referred to discussions on wayleave permission and a 20 week consultation process, with which I am familiar. Can he indicate when the system will be in operation? There is consensus that this system is needed and people want to know when it will be operation.
I appreciate the Deputy's concerns because Limerick has also been selected for the provision of CCTV cameras and people there have experienced similar delays. Unfortunately, this is a complex process.
To be helpful to Deputy Timmins, the information available to me anticipated the Deputy asking me that question. The information available suggests that the wayleave process, which is responsible for delaying matters, will be completed within the next two to three weeks and the timescale for the installation of the cameras will be approximately 20 weeks from the completion of the process I outlined.
I take it there is no outstanding issue regarding funding or manpower and that the only outstanding issue is wayleave permission.
That is correct.
Is it fair to say that the system will be installed six months from today, having regard to the 20 week period plus another three or four weeks?
The wayleave negotiations will be completed within two to three weeks from which the process I outlined will follow. From what I can gather, it should take only a few weeks. The information I have been asked to give the Deputy is that within 20 weeks of that period, the cameras will be installed. I hope the Deputy will see them in place for Christmas.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.