Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising this important matter. I am well aware of the usefulness and significance of CCTV footage from my time as Minister for Justice and, indeed, before. Last Friday, I was in Anglesea Street Garda station in Cork where I was given a presentation on the vast array of CCTV footage that is available to gardaí as a result of CCTV cameras placed in Cork city. I saw the same when I visited Store Street Garda station in Dublin. So, CCTV is hugely beneficial. It assists gardaí in the investigation of crime.

I fully accept what the Senator said, that CCTV in towns and villages can contribute to feelings of safety. They provide a level of reassurance to citizens and individuals and can deter criminal activity simply through their presence. However, it should be noted that the provision of CCTV for the purposes of crime prevention and public safety are matters for local authorities and the Garda Commissioner. That is the situation under law. I, as the Minister for Justice, have no role in deciding on where CCTV cameras should be installed and I cannot direct local authorities to install CCTV in a given location. In many respects, dealing with the issue of what happened in Tarbert a while ago is a matter that Kerry County Council needs to engage with An Garda Síochána on so that they can put forward proposals and avail of the law that is there in order to install cameras.

The Department of Justice plays a significant role in supporting local authorities in installing and maintaining community CCTV schemes. Since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish community-based CCTV systems in their areas. The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to not only cover new CCTV systems, but also to provide funding for the extension or upgrading of existing CCTV systems that were incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may also seek a one-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs. Grants of over €950,000 for 36 community CCTV schemes have been approved to date.

I want Senator Kennelly and other Senators to be aware that a further €1 million in funding has been made available towards the development of community-based CCTV schemes in 2024. Applications for funding are now open and can be made directly by the relevant local authorities. I appeal to and urge local authorities to seek to avail of those schemes. This level of funding underlines my commitment to working with communities to ensure that everyone feels safe. The Department is also committed to putting in place robust legislative measures to support community CCTV schemes. There must be a lawful basis for the installation and use of those cameras and schemes. That is why the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law in December 2023, provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. In order to introduce the new regime for CCTV, Part 5 of the Act must be commenced. Under the Act, there is a new requirement for the Garda Commissioner to develop a code of practice in respect of CCTV. This will set out the procedures and standards to be followed, as well as the new rules around confidentiality, security storage, access, protection of data and data subject rights. I am advised by Garda authorities that work is ongoing regarding the development of this code of practice. I urge An Garda Síochána to expedite this matter.

I fully accept the usefulness and importance of CCTV cameras in an area. We all need to put more pressure on local authorities to try to advance this idea. I know they have concerns about being data processors or data holders, but that has not precluded Cork city or Dublin city from availing of these cameras to such a good extent. I urge local authorities in other places to do the same.