Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
299. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to make the application process for installing crime preventing CCTV systems less arduous in view of the fact that the take-up for the scheme to date has been small; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23694/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems. In pursuance of this commitment, a community-based CCTV grant-aid scheme was launched by my Department in 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of €1 million being made available each year.
Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000.
The statutory requirements governing the establishment of community CCTV systems generally require that any proposed scheme must -
- be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee;
- have the prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must also act as Data Controller – this is a long-standing statutory requirement, set out in the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 289 of 2006), for the establishment of community CCTV systems generally; and
- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner in accordance with Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of whether or not grant funding is sought from my Department to assist in their establishment. Indeed I would further point out that some 45 community CCTV schemes were successfully established within this same legal framework between 2005 and 2013, with the support of the grant aid scheme administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department.
While fully respecting the statutory requirements necessary for CCTV systems and the need for protection of public funds, the Department of course wishes to utilise as simple and user-friendly an application process as possible in relation to the grant-aid available.
With this objective in mind, the application process and associated documentation for the current scheme were updated and streamlined by my Department, as compared to the previous scheme.
Further, and again in the interests of avoiding any obstacles to uptake, in establishing the grant-aid scheme, the Department consulted broadly including with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Attorney General. There was also consultation regarding the scheme with stakeholders including County and City Management Association (CCMA), Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), Irish Rural Link as well as interested community groups. In addition, support and guidance remains available from officials in my Department for any interested groups, should that be helpful in considering submitting an application to the scheme.
I am very keen to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, take advantage of the availability of this scheme. With funding of some €1 million available for each year of the scheme, there is room for a greater number of applications than we have seen to date. My Department is ready and willing to guide interested groups through the application process and I encourage any interested groups to make contact with my Department for assistance. A dedicated email address is available for that purpose – communitycctv@justice.ie - and full details of the grant aid package are also available to download from my Department's website www.justice.ie.
