Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to the House. However, I am disappointed that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, is not here to respond to this matter. I appreciate I am lucky that a Minister of the experience and expertise of Deputy Deenihan is here and will be well able to answer any questions I have in relation to this matter. Given, coincidentally, the theme of this matter is similar to that of the previous one I am sure much of the Minister's response to it will be a repeat of his earlier reply.

I am specifically interested in hearing from the Minister whether the Government is considering reintroducing the community-based CCTV scheme which commenced under a previous Government in 2005 and ended in 2008 or 2009 but proved to be hugely successful. The aim of this initiative was to support local communities, increase public safety and reduce the risk of anti-social and criminal activity. I have seen this initiative in action, via the community-funded CCTV scheme in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, which has been in operation since 2008. As a member of the police committee in County Leitrim I attended a meeting at which Garda from the Sligo and Leitrim divisions reiterated their strong support for the CCTV scheme. They also outlined, as had already been outlined to me by the Manorhamilton community group, that the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme was unparalleled. As a result of that scheme, which is closely monitored, the Garda had apprehended many culprits. In one particular instance, a person in respect of whom the Garda were in pursuit was picked up on the CCTV system. There are three roads leading out of Manorhamilton, any which one of which the alleged suspect could have taken, but because of the existence of the cameras the Garda were able to focus on the road he did take and he was apprehended. That is only one of many examples in this regard.

I am, therefore, strongly of the view - I have discussed this bilaterally with the Minister - that this initiative should be reintroduced. The Minister referred in his previous reply to a reduction in rural crime. However, as he and everybody else here will be well aware, perception can sometimes overrule reality. Media attention focused on stories about rural crime puts the fear of God into people such that they believe there are criminals outside their doors waiting to steal from them and goodness knows what else. This does not in any way under-estimate the horrific nature of some of these crimes, the most recent being that carried out in Tipperary, the thugs responsible for which were finally apprehended. As far as I am concerned they will not spend long enough in prison: they should never be released. However, that is another issue.

I believe the community CCTV scheme was effective. The problem is that towns and villages do not have the resources to implement such a scheme without Government support. I understand the local business community in Carrick-on-Shannon, which has been crying out for some time for a CCTV scheme, has come together to fund a CCTV scheme, which I hope will be up and running in the not too distant future. It should not be left to communities to fund their own schemes. There are areas where this will not be possible without financial aid. In light of the Minister's earlier reply regarding the comprehensive nature of the approach being taken by the Government to addressing crime, particularly rural crime, this is a no-brainer. Regardless of the financial or other difficulties being experienced, the Government needs to prioritise this issue and that highlighted earlier by my colleague Senator Moloney. It is vital the Government finds the money to address these specific issues. Like me, the Minister comes from a rural part of the country and as such he knows how fearful people are and to whom they are looking to have these issues addressed. Regardless of the colour of the Government, it is to it and the Garda Síochána that the people look for protection. It is, therefore, vital that this scheme be reintroduced as soon as possible.