Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Ceisteanna (488)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

485 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 244 of 19 November 2003 and 394 of 2 March 2004, in replies to which he stated that a request for tender and detailed technical specification documents were being drafted for a closed circuit television system in Tallaght and that the pre-tender process was at an advanced stage, if his attention has been drawn to the similarity in the two replies; if his attention has further been drawn to progress towards this process being completed; and the progress which has been made between the two dates. [8607/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As the Deputy is aware, Tallaght, with Athlone, Clondalkin and Waterford, is one of the four systems in phase 2 of the current CCTV installation programme throughout the State set to receive a new Garda town centre CCTV system.

The experience to date with the installation of CCTV systems in other areas clearly indicates that to arrive at full commissioning can be a very lengthy process. This is due in the main to the complex nature of these CCTV systems, which includes, inter alia, refurbishment of Garda stations for the monitoring of the cameras, provision of civil works, services of the ESB and local authorities and so on.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that in order to implement and deliver these systems in the most efficient and cost effective manner, careful consideration must be given to the planning of the project as a whole. Consideration is currently being given to a restructuring of the manner in which these systems go to tender with a view to delivering the implementation of these CCTV systems within a shorter timeframe.