Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will alter the criteria currently in place for assessment of growing towns whose local authorities or chamber of commerce apply for Garda monitored closed circuit television coverage(details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26272/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume that the Deputy's question refers to the provision of Garda CCTV town centre systems, which has been rolled out to various locations in the State in recent years. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all applications for such Garda CCTV systems must be prepared in co-operation with the local Garda district and divisional officers and must receive their full support. The application is then considered by the CCTV advisory committee which makes a recommendation, through the Garda Commissioner, to myself. Applications are assessed by the committee on the basis of Garda operational needs against the following objective criteria: crime-public order statistics in an area; population and level of activity there; the recommendation of local Garda management; any special circumstances or needs that exist and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system on the area. I am further informed that the Garda authorities have no plans to alter the criteria currently in place. The deployment and allocation of resources, including Garda CCTV systems, is an operational matter for the Garda authorities.

I am advised that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Thurles from local Garda management and Thurles chamber of commerce, which had been submitted to the CCTV advisory committee for consideration, was withdrawn in early 2003. Further to a number of queries received regarding this application, officials in my Department were advised by the Garda authorities that the application was withdrawn as the chamber of commerce intended to install a community based CCTV system. I am advised that no new application for a Garda CCTV system in Thurles has since been received by the advisory committee. I am further informed that no application for the installation of a Garda CCTV system in Nenagh has ever been submitted to the CCTV advisory committee for consideration.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for the Garda Síochána to install Garda CCTV systems in all areas that have sought them. To this end, I launched the community based CCTV scheme on 15 June 2005. This scheme has been developed in response to a demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. The scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. Communities which are not ready to apply for full scheme funding — stage 2 — could apply for pre-development supports — stage 1 — to assist in the formulation of high-quality proposals which will have the necessary elements of local support and sustainability.

The closing date for receipt of applications was 20 September 2005 and the scheme is being administered on behalf of my Department by Area Development Management Limited, ADM. I am advised that four of the 83 applications for funding under both stages of the scheme originated from County Tipperary. I understand that an application for stage 2 funding has been received from Thurles and is under consideration. No application for either stage has been received from Nenagh.