Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This issue has rolled on and on. On the "This Week" programme on RTÉ Radio 1 last Sunday, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, again defended the scheme in spite of the fact that only six communities across the country have taken up the CCTV scheme. He put the onus back on local communities and did not address the fundamental questions raised by the committee in respect of data and how they are managed. Judging by the interviews carried out with members of local communities, the communities are crying out for assistance. They have been left with an onerous task. The questions raised by the committee have not been answered but the scheme is still being defended publicly, as was the case last weekend. I wish to support the cause of those communities. The current situation is unacceptable. No one should stand over a scheme which has only been taken up by six communities across the country. The scheme is not working and that is not defendable.