Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the budget of €5.1million for the Garda closed circuit television programme has been allocated for 2006; if so, the breakdown of this expenditure in relation to the projects that were allocated funding; the amount allocated to each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38499/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the E4 subhead of the Garda Síochána Vote covers expenditure on new Garda CCTV installations, the maintenance of existing Garda CCTV systems and the allocation of grant aid funding for the Community Based CCTV Scheme, which is being administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal. The Community Based CCTV Scheme, which I launched in June 2005, offered two levels of support to meet the requirements of local communities. Stage 1 offered pre-development supports and funding of up to €5,000 for organisations/groups who were not yet ready to develop their proposals fully. Some 24 successful groups received Stage 1 grants totalling €115,665 earlier this year. Stage 2 offered a direct Application Process to organisations who could demonstrate an ability to develop and deliver a CCTV Programme immediately. Some 13 successful groups have been approved to receive Stage 2 grants totalling €1 million to be matched, in RAPID areas, by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

On 13 October 2006, the Garda authorities published a request for tender, with a closing date of 22 November, for the installation of three Garda CCTV Systems in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore, at an estimated cost of €1.3 million. These systems will use wireless CCTV technology which will allow CCTV cameras to be redeployed as necessary to meet changing policing requirements. Contractors will be required to complete the deployment of these CCTV systems before the end of March 2007. Further such projects are under consideration as part of the process of outsourcing Garda CCTV systems. Maintenance costs of €308,000 associated with existing systems have also been incurred to date. Given, in particular, the complex and lengthy work required for the peer review process with the Department of Finance on the outsourcing of Garda CCTV systems and the implementation of Joint Policing Committees which are necessary to approve community CCTV schemes, there will be an underspend in this subhead in 2006. The recently published Estimates for 2007 contain an increased provision for CCTV to meet a range of developments which will incur costs in 2007.