Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 158: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I launched the Community-based CCTV Scheme in June 2005, in response to a demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. The 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 offers both pre-development grants of up to €5,000 to enable qualifying applicants to investigate the need for CCTV in their area and to complete a detailed proposal, and substantive grants of up to €100,000 from my Department to install a CCTV system in their area. In addition, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs provides successful applicants from RAPID areas with a further grant to a possible maximum of €100,000. Pobal has been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of this Department and it carries out thorough assessments of all applications received.

Following the success of the first round of the Scheme I was pleased to advertise a new round of funding in December 2006. Interest in the second round of the Scheme is very high with 50 groups applying for pre-development grants and 27 groups applying for full grant-aid funding, including the applicants referred to by the Deputy.

Pobal are now evaluating all of the proposals and I am informed that they expect to have a substantial number of recommendations ready for submission to my Department around mid-May 2007.