John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a decision by his Department to provide closed circuit television in Kilkenny city; the timeframe involved for the project; the stage it is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14774/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware, Kilkenny is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide that form part of the Garda CCTV programme. Following recommendations from the Garda authorities, I have approved the implementation of six new Garda CCTV systems. With the addition of these six new locations, a total of 17 Garda town centre CCTV systems including Kilkenny 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.

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, including Kilkenny, 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 Kilkenny and the other 16 locations selected. This will happen in conjunction with 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 Kilkenny and in the other locations, at the earliest opportunity subject to compliance with relevant procurement legislation and procedures.