Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a programme of providing current funding to closed circuit television schemes in view of the fact that the ongoing cost of monitoring cameras and alerting Gardaí is a key reason in deterring vulnerable estates and communities from applying for his CCTV installation programme which mainly covers capital costs. [7370/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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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 provides 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 have been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. 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 by 31st January 2007 and 20 groups submitted proposals. They are being evaluated by Pobal. Grants for 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 was advertised on 1st December 2006 with a closing date for applications of 28th February 2007. As outlined above, there is considerable interest and response to the scheme as it stands and funding is provided on the basis that appropriate arrangements are in place for the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the schemes. That said, I am open to consider the matter when the scheme next falls to be reviewed.