Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of closed circuit television systems being monitored by An Garda Síochána on a 24 hour basis; the number of CCTV systems being monitored by on An Garda Síochána on a part-time basis; the number of CCTV systems not being monitored by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6866/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems have been installed in the following locations:

Dublin North Central — 44 cameras — monitored at the Garda Office, O'Connell Street;

Dublin South Central — 25 cameras — monitored at Pearse Street Garda Station;

Cork City — 29 cameras — monitored at Anglesea Street Garda Station;

Tralee — 24 cameras — monitored at Tralee Garda Station;

Galway — 18 cameras — monitored at Mill Street Garda Station;

Limerick — 24 cameras — monitored at Henry Street Garda Station;

Bray — 13 cameras — monitored at Bray Garda Station;

Dundalk — 10 cameras — monitored at Dundalk Garda Station; and

Dún Laoghaire — 8 cameras — monitored at Bray Garda Station.

I am further informed that the Garda Traffic Management Centre, located at the Garda DMR Headquarters, Harcourt Square, also has the ability to access and monitor cameras as required from the Pearse Street/Temple Bar and O'Connell Street CCTV systems, as well as cameras attached to Dublin City Council's Traffic Management system.

Each of these CCTV systems is operated by the Garda Síochána and is equipped with technology to monitor, read and print images recorded by the system. For Garda operational reasons it would not be appropriate to indicate the precise monitoring arrangements at each location. However, in addition to monitoring of images in real time, all images are recorded and can be reviewed at short notice when required.

While An Garda Síochána do not have responsibility for monitoring Community or other non-Garda CCTV Systems, there is a provision within the Garda CCTV Policy for local Garda management to view images on slave monitors from these non-Garda systems.

I am committed to expansion of the Garda CCTV programme and contracts have recently been signed for CCTV systems in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore. In addition, I recently announced that It planned that tenders will issue very shortly for further systems in Athlone, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, and Waterford.