Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On page 97 of the programme for Government, the Government states it will support the investment in closed-circuit television, CCTV, at key locations along the road network in rural and urban centres. There are several community CCTV schemes nationwide and the Department committed €1 million per year over several years. In County Laois, however, the Donaghmore and Mountmellick schemes have been held up and a similar situation exists across the country. Many of these schemes have raised funds through their own voluntary efforts such as through cake sales, raffles and so on. There has been a game of ping-pong between senior Garda management and local authorities as to who will take responsibility for storing the data. This has dragged on and on and the schemes are now in jeopardy as a consequence.

I have raised this matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality who replied that he is trying to resolve it but in the meantime, these CCTV schemes and community alert schemes are paralysed as a result. I call on the Taoiseach to examine this seriously with the Minister for Justice and Equality. It cannot be allowed to drag on. Grant money the Department has allocated is going down the tubes because this matter has not been resolved. The County and City Management Association has said its members will not touch it because they are not the police force. The Garda also has stated it is not its baby either. Someone must take responsibility and it is up to the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice and Equality to knock heads together and make somebody take responsibility and sort this out so that community alert schemes in counties Laois and Offaly and across the State can benefit from this funding.

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