Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a proposal to introduce a licensing system for the installers of house alarms; his views on whether this will put undue expense and difficulty on older people on low incomes who need access to such protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21793/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Private Security Authority was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004 as a statutory independent body to regulate and licence the Irish private security industry. Installation of all types of security equipment is one of the services for which licences will ultimately be required. I am informed that the PSA has already commenced issuing licences to contractors installing intruder alarms. It will become mandatory for contractors who install intruder alarms to be licensed from 1 August 2006. The Authority also plans to licence individual employees in this sector. The overriding consideration is to provide for a sound regulatory environment for the private security industry. This was the main reason why I brought forward the Private Security Services Act 2004. Regulation of the industry is a matter of public interest, not just in the context of promoting consumer confidence but also in raising and maintaining standards in the industry. The industry itself supports regulation and has actively campaigned for it for many years. The provision of a regulatory environment will understandably lead to cost implications. However, both the industry and consumers will benefit from the rise in standards and the provision of higher quality services that regulation of the industry will bring.