Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 256: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria for assessing a community closed circuit television application; when he expects to confirm the 2007 grant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7352/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme in June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. This Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The scheme operates at two levels: Stage 1 for pre-development proposals and Stage 2 for fully developed proposals. The requirements under Stage 1 are less onerous than those for Stage 2. Pobal has been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. Details of the assessment criteria are set out in the Community Based CCTV Scheme Guidelines for the Application and Appraisals Process which can be found on both the Pobal website, www.pobal.ie, and on my Department's website, www.justice.ie.

Interest in the first round of the scheme was high with a total of 13 successful groups approved to receive Stage 2 grants totalling €1 million to be matched, in RAPID areas, by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Payment of these grants to the successful applicants is underway and progressing well. In addition, a total of 24 successful groups received Stage 1 grants totalling €115,665 during 2006. Pobal invited all groups who received Stage 1 grants to submit Stage 2 proposals and grants to successful applicants (subject to the Garda Commissioner's authorisation under section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005) are expected to be announced by the end of March 2007. In addition, a new round of funding under the Community Based CCTV Scheme (both stage 1 and stage 2) was advertised on 1st December, 2006 with a closing date of 28th February, 2007. As the closing date for receipt of applications has not yet been reached, the total number of applications that will be received is not yet known. Accordingly, it is not possible at this stage to predict when grant announcements will be made but I can assure the Deputy there will be no undue delay in the evaluation and approval process.