Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when closed circuit television cameras will be installed at Ennis town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31984/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware, Ennis is one of 17 areas set to receive a Garda CCTV system under the Garda CCTV Programme. The Garda authorities are currently finalising a detailed Request for Tender (RFT) for the outsourced service provision of 17 Garda CCTV systems in the following towns: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, Tullamore and Waterford. The locations above are listed in alphabetical order.

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. I believe that 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.

Garda Management and my Department are currently in consultation with the Department of Finance with a view to proceeding as quickly as possible with the procurement process to contract outsourced service providers for the development, installation and management of these CCTV systems, including Ennis. This is now the subject of a "peer review" process organised by the Department of Finance.

Following the successful conclusion of this review it is intended to issue the Request for Tender.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in the provision of closed circuit television cameras for Kilrush, County Clare, under his Department's community scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31985/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme on 15 June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. This 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. The Scheme is being administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal.

Notice of the call for proposals was published in the national newspapers shortly after the launch of the Scheme. All relevant application documentation was published on the websites of both Pobal and my Department. Pobal also ran a number of information seminars during August 2005.

I am informed that no application in respect of Community based CCTV was received in respect of Kilrush. It is intended to make a further call for proposals under the Community Based CCTV Scheme in the coming months and it is of course open to any organisation in the Kilrush area to submit an application for funding at that stage.