John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 268: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress in the provision of closed circuit television for Kilkenny City; if the scheme for this location has been agreed; and if he will confirm the timeframe for completion. [1213/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Kilkenny is one of the 17 areas which form part of the current Garda CCTV Programme, as follows (listed alphabetically): Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, Tullamore and Waterford.

The Garda authorities are currently finalising the tender process for the installation of three Garda CCTV Systems in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore. These three towns were chosen as representative of the average size of a Garda Síochána CCTV system, containing a good cross-section of the type of urban area in which Garda CCTV is typically deployed. 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 within 3 months from the date of contract.

Further such projects are now under preparation by the Garda Commissioner as part of the process of outsourcing Garda CCTV systems. Kilkenny will be considered together with the remainder of the Garda CCTV Programme.

I also wish to inform the Deputy that an initial grant of €5,000 has been allocated to Kilkenny County Council to enable it to prepare proposals for a local Community CCTV system. Pobal have invited all of the groups who received such funding to submit final proposals before the end of January 2007.

In addition, a new round of funding under the Community Based CCTV Scheme was advertised on 1 December 2006 with a closing date of 28 February 2007. It is open to any organisation from Kilkenny to submit an application for grant aid from my Department of up to €100,000 under this Scheme.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has given a commitment to provide successful applications from RAPID areas with a further grant to a maximum of €100,000 subject to the total grant aid from both Departments not exceeding €200,000 or 100% of the capital costs of the project, whichever is the lesser.