Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the funding for a closed circuit television system for Mullingar, County Westmeath; and when he expects this system to be installed. [36326/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the funding for a closed circuit television system for Athlone, County Westmeath; and when he expects this system to be installed. [36327/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 123 together.

As the Deputy is aware, Athlone and Mullingar are two 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 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 Athlone and Mullingar. This will be 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.

I wish to inform the Deputy that, on 13 October 2006, 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. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 22 November 2006.

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 three CCTV systems. This innovative technology will allow CCTV cameras to be redeployed as necessary to meet changing policing requirements.

The emphasis in this project is on speed of implementation and contractors will be required to complete the deployment of these CCTV systems before the end of March 2007. The implementation of these Garda CCTV systems will provide a strong deterrent to anti-social behaviour and an excellent tool for Gardaí in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore in their fight against street crime.