Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, the Minister apologies for not being here to take this commencement matter tabled by Senator Mooney. She has asked me to thank the Senator for raising it.

CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as an aid to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two categories, namely, Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of the identified operational needs and priorities of An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.The Garda authorities inform me that they keep the current Garda CCTV arrangements under ongoing review in the context of changing operational requirements.

As regards community based CCTV, a scheme was launched in 2005 which provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme and a total of €3.76 million was allocated to fund 43 community schemes. The last of that funding was paid out in July 2013. The Minister is very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV and with this in mind has instigated a review of the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme in conjunction with the Garda authorities. The outcome of that review will inform future decisions on the continuation of the scheme.

The Deputy may also be aware that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has recently made an announcement in regard to the provision of CCTV in rural areas, which is to be funded from the rural development programme 2014-2020. CCTV schemes certainly have a part to play in the detection of antisocial behaviour and criminality, but of paramount importance is a visible and responsive policing service. There is no doubt but that the Government is determined to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. The Minister has secured an allocation of a further €5.3 million to An Garda Síochána for the purchase of a further 260 vehicles between now and the end of the year. This investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government's capital plan 2016-21, which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles over the lifetime of the plan. This substantial level of investment will be accompanied by the ongoing recruitment of new gardaí, with 600 to be recruited next year on top of the 550 to be recruited by the end of this year.