John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 244: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in providing closed circuit television system in Kilkenny city; and the time frame for completing the project. [32979/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware, Kilkenny 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 14 of these Garda CCTV systems in the following towns: Athlone, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford. The aforementioned locations 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. 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 Kilkenny. 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.

In the meantime the Garda authorities published a request for tender document (RFT) for the installation of three Garda CCTV Systems in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore on the Government's procurement website etenders.gov.ie on 13 October 2006. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 22 November 2006.

I understand that under this tender process the Garda authorities propose, as a pilot project, to seek proposals which use wireless CCTV technology for the installation of these 3 CCTV systems. This innovative technology will allow CCTV cameras to be redeployed as necessary to meet changing policing requirements.