Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In April 2017, the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, announced €1 million in funding for a closed circuit television, CCTV, scheme for each of the years from 2017 to 2019. However, not one community group or organisation has had an application accepted under the scheme. The current Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, indicated the funding is secure for the three-year period in question. This year, all five applications made under the scheme have been returned to the groups concerned seeking further information. This is unfair and disappointing. There must be an issue with the scheme if only five applications for funding have been submitted. A sum of €3 million is available for the three-year period, yet only five applications for funding have been submitted.

One of the reasons the scheme is not working is that the Government will only fund 60% of the cost of a CCTV scheme, with the remainder to be provided by the applicant organisation. This issue needs to be addressed and the scheme must be changed. I call on the Minister to change the scheme because it is not working. It could be used to monitor littering and anti-social behaviour, particularly in rural areas, if the criteria were changed. Many rural groups, organisations and communities are not aware of the scheme. A proper awareness raising campaign must be introduced and the scheme must be changed.