Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the provision of closed circuit television in the towns of Drogheda and Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2636/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy will be aware, an application for a Garda CCTV system in Drogheda had been submitted to the CCTV advisory committee for consideration. This committee was established by the Garda Commissioner to advise on all matters relating to CCTV systems. Following recommendations from the Garda authorities, I have approved the implementation of new Garda CCTV systems in a further six locations, including Drogheda. The additional locations are as follows, in alphabetical order: Drogheda, Dungarvan, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise and Tullamore.

With the addition of the six new locations I have outlined, a total of 17 Garda town centre CCTV systems will be implemented in the following locations: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, Tullamore and Waterford.

As I have indicated previously, I am anxious to accelerate the implementation of this CCTV programme and reduce as far as possible the workload of the Garda Síochána in this regard. The answer is to outsource the installation of Garda CCTV systems to the greatest extent possible, making use not only of the technical but also of the project management expertise in the private sector.

In recent months the Garda Síochána has conducted a thorough examination of all aspects of Garda involvement in CCTV systems. Following this review, I have recently received a comprehensive and innovative proposal for the project management and the outsourced service provision of Garda CCTV systems from the Garda Commissioner.

The Garda authorities wish to commence the initial public procurement process and I am also anxious to proceed urgently with this comprehensive request for tender to source the best CCTV service possible for Drogheda and the other 16 locations selected. This will happen in conjunction with the imminent commencement of section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 which provides a legislative basis for the operation of CCTV in public places. My Department is currently in consultation with the Department of Finance with a view to proceeding as quickly as possible with the procurement process to contract the project managers and outsourced service providers for the development, installation and management of these CCTV systems.

My ambition is to have a Garda CCTV system operating in Drogheda and in the other 16 locations, at the earliest opportunity, subject to the limitations of compliance with relevant procurement legislation and procedures.

In addition, I have recently approved a grant for stage 2 — operational — funding, subject to contract negotiations with Pobal, to Drogheda Borough Council following its successful application under my Department's community based CCTV scheme. Pobal has been engaged to administer the scheme on behalf of my Department and will liaise directly with the applicant before a draw down of funds is authorised.

I understand that the council's community CCTV proposal involves the installation of cameras in a number of RAPID designated areas in Drogheda. This differs from the Drogheda Garda CCTV system, which will cover the town centre.

On CCTV for Ardee, I recently approved a stage 1 — pre-development — grant award of €5,000 to Ardee community CCTV scheme group following an application under my Department's community based CCTV scheme.

I am further advised by Pobal that it has recently written directly to all successful stage 1 applicants regarding the next step in this process. It is also my intention to invite a new round of applications for funding under the community based CCTV scheme in the coming months, and it is open to the Ardee community CCTV scheme group to submit a stage 2 application for funding at that time.