Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I wish to discuss the issue of CCTV. We all know CCTV is an invaluable tool in deterring people from engaging in offences and public disorder. It is also a valuable tool when a crime is committed or when public disorder occurs. It enhances and enables the investigative process and can assist in the identification of perpetrators. In fact, a 2013 study by the UK College of Policing found that an estimated 16 out of every 100 crimes were prevented through the use of CCTV. Specifically on vehicular crime, for every 100 crimes, an average of 26 crimes were prevented. Inhabitants of many towns could point to instances and certain areas in their towns that have become no-go areas, especially at night. CCTV has the ability to provide major assistance to all crime prevention measures being undertaken across all sectors of society.

People are sick and tired of assaults and antisocial behaviour, including littering. The benefit of CCTV systems, particularly in urban areas, is immeasurable. In that respect, the community CCTV scheme is an excellent initiative but, unfortunately, the implementation of the scheme leaves an awful lot to be desired. It is, and has been for a number of years, the source of significant frustration in towns such as Monaghan, where the application process first began in 2017. This scheme should have ensured that towns like Monaghan and many others elsewhere had their CCTV systems up and running long ago. Communities and the Garda want it. We all have a responsibility to bring in whatever measures are possible to assist gardaí to do their jobs.

There was an impasse for some time with regard to the issue of data control. In the meantime, assaults and burglaries have continued throughout the country. This impasse cannot be allowed to continue when people are at risk of assault on our streets. Many schemes were approved for funding, including €25,000 for Monaghan town in June 2020. Unfortunately, it has yet to get off the ground. I am aware that the general scheme of the Garda Síochána digital recording Bill 2021 was approved by the Government and published on 29 April 2021. We are waiting for that legislation to pass through both Houses. At the time, the Minister also outlined that it was planned to have a further review of the terms and conditions of the current CCTV scheme to bring it into line with the proposals in this new legislation.

In summary, we are saying that there are no doubts about the benefits of CCTV. That much we all agree on, but the lack of progress in bringing schemes like this to fruition is very frustrating. I am hopeful that the Minister of State will give some indication of progress in this regard. Have the obstacles regarding data control now been overcome? When can we look forward to these schemes being rolled out? People have been waiting too long for that.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. At the outset, I wish to state that I appreciate and understand that responsibility for the particular area of CCTV falls under the remit of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. With that in mind, there is one line of the response from the Minister of State that, unfortunately, stands out like a sore thumb, namely, "I understand that the application process in respect of Monaghan town and Carrickmacross is still ongoing." With respect, the process has been ongoing since 2017. Clearly, people's frustration with the delay in the scheme has gone beyond the beyond. The message I ask the Minister of State to bring back to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, with respect, is that this particular scheme, warranted as it is, is simply not functioning properly. It is an insult to the people and communities on the ground who are trying to make themselves safe by having CCTV that we are sitting here discussing an application process for Monaghan town that dates back to 2017. Clearly, it is not working. I would like the Minister to acknowledge that it is not working and to do something progressive to move the situation forward in order that the people in the many towns listed in the Minister of State's response can look forward to the sense of security of knowing that when they walk down the street at night, if there are no gardaí on the beat, as per the previous Commencement matter, at least there is CCTV in place that might help to prevent crime and to assist in the investigation of crime thereafter.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this most important matter. I hear the Senator's frustration in relation to the application process for the Monaghan town and Carrickmacross CCTV schemes, which has been ongoing since 2017. I certainly will convey the Senator's frustration on the matter to the Cabinet Minister. Just as the Government's community safety policy recognises that community safety is a whole-of-government responsibility and not solely a concern for An Garda Síochána or the Department of Justice, the strength of the CCTV schemes nationwide results from the collaboration at community level, with gardaí, local authorities and community groups all playing their part to create an effective and robust CCTV scheme. In parallel with the enhancement of community CCTV schemes through the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022, the Government's community safety policy will be given a statutory basis in the new policing, security and community safety Bill that is being developed by the Department of Justice. The partnerships intend to bring all services and the community together at local authority level, replacing the existing joint policing communities.They will serve as a forum for discussion and decisions on community priorities and CCTV schemes will undoubtedly feature very much among such priorities. Each partnership will be responsible for developing a community safety plan and lessons learned from the pilot phase will be used to inform the roll-out of the partnership model across the State following the enactment of the policing, security and community safety Bill.