Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this issue which, unlike many of the issues that are raised in this House, creates no resource implications nor is there any seeking of grant aid or State money. I merely ask that the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda Síochána would facilitate the system of cameras in rural areas predominantly, but also in urban areas, due to the increase in burglaries and the fear of credit crunch crime that is particularly evident in rural areas. There was a 32% increase in recorded break-ins in my constituency of Laois-Offaly in 2011. This statistic is the second highest in the country. I am sure I speak for every Member when I express concern at the increase in crime and crime against property in particular.

The issue I raise is compounded by a reduction in resources available. We all accept these are challenging times and that budgetary reductions impinge upon the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda Síochána as much as any other sector. There are fewer gardaí, an older Garda transport fleet with clapped out cars in some cases and fewer Garda patrols, whether on foot, bike or car. The total number of gardaí is reduced and there is a continuing threat to rural Garda stations. The Minister recently announced his intention to close some more stations. Even accepting the difficult financial situation, we must acknowledge the very important role of communities and what they can contribute towards the coming together of groups and the prevention of crime. I contend one such way would be the pooling of financial resources to install CCTV cameras in their areas. I am most cognisant of the privacy and data protection and data collection issues and Garda issues.

I refer to section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 which allows the Garda Commissioner to apply such consent. The local authorities should employ a local authority liaison officer to liaise with the Garda liaison officer and the local communities.

I compliment the community alert organisations and neighbourhood watch committees for their endeavours up and down the country. I ask that the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda Síochána co-ordinate with regard to the letter and spirit of section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, to facilitate the installation, in a very careful manner, of cameras in local communities. Local authorities must interact with the Garda Síochána and also with community groups. The law facilitates a designated local authority official to act as the data controller to ensure proper and responsible operation of the camera system. A code of practice has been published by the Department of Justice and Equality and this will ensure that public confidence in the operation of community-based CCTV systems is maintained.

What I am asking for does not involve the expenditure of any money on the part of the State and neither does it involve the changing of any law nor the introduction of any new regulations. Instead, it involves the will and commitment on the part of the Department and the Garda Síochána at senior level and the local authorities, to ensure that we can bring this to bear. Communities wish to protect their own people and their own property and I encourage them to do so and the State should assist them in so doing.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I am responding to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Mr. Alan Shatter, who thanks the Deputy for raising this matter.

The community-based CCTV scheme was first launched in 2005 to provide financial assistance towards the capital costs of establishing community CCTV systems. To date, two major rounds of the scheme have been advertised in 2005-06 and in 2007, under which 45 substantive schemes were approved for funding of which 43 are now fully operational. In total, some €7.27 million in grant awards has been announced under the scheme, comprising funding from the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department formerly responsible for community and the Gaeltacht.

The current position is that while the funding provided under the previous two rounds has been fully allocated, the installation of a number of the grant-aided projects is ongoing. No decision has been made as to the possible further extension of the community-based CCTV scheme. However, any future plans for such an extension will depend on a number of factors, including the progression of projects already grant aided and the availability of funding.

The Deputy will be aware that in addition to the community CCTV scheme, there are is a substantial number of Garda CCTV systems operating in many parts of the country.

It should be noted that the value of CCTV systems is principally as an aid to support policing and to provide a deterrent to crime and public disorder. These schemes are not and were never intended to be a replacement for more traditional policing methods and Garda engagement with local communities.

In that context, under the national model of community policing, which was launched in 2009, each Garda district and divisional officer develops appropriate operational strategies to meet the policing needs of the local community. This includes the establishment of clear policing objectives such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies such as community alert, neighbourhood watch and crimestoppers. The Deputy will also be familiar with the Garda initiative, Operation Fiacla, which is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country with the aim of disrupting their activities and bringing them before the courts. Operation Fiacla is intelligence-driven and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda region to target suspect offenders.

The focus of An Garda Síochána is to ensure the safety of communities, both rural and urban, through maximising the efficient use of available resources and enhancing engagement to ensure the best possible policing service is provided. This will continue to be the case.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I wish briefly to reiterate my point. I am not talking about money, grant aid or an extension of schemes that would involve further public expenditure. The Minister of State's own constituency in Donegal is no different from mine. Garda patrols are less frequent and some Garda stations are being closed, while opening hours in others are restricted. The Minister of State referred to the national model of community policing. Will he recommend that where local communities have already got funds in place, a Garda liaison officer will assist them? If we were in times of plenty this would not be an issue. We would have gardaí on foot patrol, in fast patrol cars and on motorbikes, but we do not have such services in rural Ireland.

For years, in the Laois-Offaly Garda division, in my constituency, we had five superintendents and one chief superintendent. We now have no chief superintendent and only one superintendent. I am asking the Minister of State to explain to the Minister for Justice and Equality that we are not seeking funding or grant aid, but are looking for the current laws to be facilitated. The current regulations should encourage local gardaí to work in partnership with the community when they obviously cannot police areas in the same way as they have since the foundation of the State.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for the information he has brought forward and the proposals he has made. I can assure him that they will be brought to the Minister's attention as soon as possible.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State.