James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the very important matter of community CCTV, in particular as it relates to Monaghan town and Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

I am acutely aware of the invaluable role played by community CCTV schemes throughout the country in providing vital reassurance to local communities and helping people to feel safer in their neighbourhoods. It is a priority of the Minister for Justice and her Department to ensure that local groups are supported in their essential contributions to the local CCTV schemes, while ensuring appropriate and proportionate oversight of statutory data protection safeguards.I am pleased to confirm that as of early August this year, 35 schemes have been approved for funding to a total of €953,689.16. Since 2020, 12 schemes have been approved to a value of €192,021.32. I understand that the application process in respect of Monaghan town and Carrickmacross is still ongoing.

As the Senator may be aware, community-based CCTV is currently governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006, Sl 289/2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must be approved by the local joint policing committee; have a data protection impact assessment prepared; have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must act as a joint data controller with An Garda Síochána, and a joint data controller agreement must be put in place; and have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner. This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of how they are funded. These key legal requirements have been in place since 2006. Agreement was reached on a revised CCTV scheme, which has been included in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022. The Bill was approved by Government on 21 June 2022 and published on 4 August. This Bill will provide a new statutory basis for community-based CCTV schemes going forward and will be fully compliant with data protection law. Under the new legislation, only local authorities or Garda Síochána members can be authorised by the Garda Commissioner to operate community CCTV schemes. There is a provision to contract other organisations to operate the CCTV on behalf of the local authority or the Garda. I want to acknowledge the important contribution made by local community groups across the country to local CCTV schemes. Community groups will continue to play their part in CCTV schemes via the establishment of the local community safety partnerships, which will be rolled out under the policing, security and community safety Bill.