Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (727)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

727. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda controlled CCTV cameras in each location in tabular form. [52260/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information asked for by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, who have advised that it is not possible to collate the information sought in the timeframe available.

I will revert to the Deputy as soon as this information has been received.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to your Parliamentary Question (No. 727 of 2 November 2021) where you sought: “the number Garda controlled CCTV cameras in each location in tabular form”.

As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

The Garda Commissioner authorises CCTV under Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the purposes of securing public order and safety in public places by facilitating the deterrence, prevention, detection and prosecution of offences.

Under Section 38 of the Act, the Commissioner may give authorisation in respect of CCTV to any or all of following:

(a) Members of An Garda Síochána;

(b) Persons who meet the established criteria and who are retained under a contract with the Garda Commissioner;

(c) Persons who meet the established criteria and whose application for authorisation in respect of a specified area within the administrative area of a local authority has been approved by the local authority after consulting with the joint policing committee for that administrative area.

The below table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the 43 schemes that have received authorisation from the Garda Commissioner under Section 38(3)(a) of the 2005 Act.

No	List of Sec 38 (3) (a) AGS 2005 Schemes	Division		Number of Locations (L) and/or Cameras (C) as recorded on authorisation
1	Ennis	Clare	20 ( L )	20 ( C )
2	Anglesea St.	Cork City	34 ( L )	34 ( C )
3	Holyhill	Cork City	1 ( L )	4 ( c )
4	Fermoy	Cork North	11 ( L )	11 ( C )
5	Bandon	Cork West	14 ( L )	14 ( C )
6	Kinsale	Cork West	12 ( L )	12 ( C )
7	Bantry	Cork West	6 ( L )	6 ( C )
8	Schull	Cork West	2 ( L )	2 ( C )
9	Clonakilty	Cork West	20 ( L )	20 ( C )
10	Macroom	Cork West	5 ( L )	5 ( C )
11	Dun Laoghaire	DMR East	14 ( L )	14 ( C )
12	Store Street	DMR North Central	60 ( L )	60 ( C )
13	Garda Síochana CCTV DMR SC	DMR South Central	34 ( L )	34 ( C )
14	Tallaght	DMR South	34 ( L )	34 ( C )
15	Crumlin	DMR South	10 ( L )	15 ( C )
16	Finglas	DMR West	23 ( L )	25 ( C )
17	Clondalkin	DMR West	14 ( L )	15 ( C )
18	Ballyfermot	DMR West	18 ( L )	28 ( C )
19	Cabra	DMR West	3 ( L )	4 ( c )
20	Blanchardstown	DMR West	8 ( L )	8 ( C )
21	Ronanstown	DMR West	12 ( L )	12 ( C )
22	Galway Town Centre	Galway	18 ( L )	18 ( C )
23	Tralee Town Centre	Kerry	24 ( L )	24 ( C )
24	Killorglin Garda Station	Kerry	5 ( L )	5 ( C )
25	Carlow	Kilkenny/Carlow	14 ( L )	16 ( C )
26	Kilkenny	Kilkenny/Carlow	15 ( L )	17 ( C )
27	Tullamore	Laois/Offaly	14 ( L )	14 ( C )
28	Portlaoise	Laois/Offaly	15 ( L )	15 ( C )
29	Henry Street	Limerick	31 ( L )	31 ( C )
30	Drogheda	Louth	13 ( L )	13 ( C )
31	Dundalk	Louth	11 ( L )	11 ( C )
32	Castlebar	Mayo	24 ( L )	24 ( C )
33	Tourmakeady	Mayo	2 ( L )	2 ( C )
34	Westport	Mayo	20 ( L )	20 ( C )
35	Duleek & Donore	Meath	6 ( L )	14 ( C )
36	Sligo Town	Sligo	27 ( L )	27 ( C )
37	Clonmel	Tipperary	12 ( L )	12 ( C )
38	Waterford	Waterford	33 ( L )	33 ( C )
39	Dungarvan	Waterford	10 ( L )	10 ( C )
40	Tramore	Waterford	9 ( L )	9 ( C )
41	Athlone Garda CCTV System	Westmeath	26 ( L )	26 ( C )
42	Mullingar	Westmeath	19 ( L )	19 ( C )
43	Bray	Wicklow	14 ( L )	14 ( C )

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there has been no new CCTV scheme under Section 38(3)(a) since approximately 2009. Any CCTV scheme commissioned since then has been administered by communities and/or local authorities pursuant to Section 38(3)(c ) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

You may wish to be aware that since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities nationwide, can apply for grant aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum total of €40,000.

The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs. Support and assistance for those running CCTV schemes is available by contacting: [e-mail]

To date, a total of 35 locations have been approved to date under the community-based CCTV scheme, with a total of almost €950,000 committed to these projects.

I hope that this information is of assistance.