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 is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. Pobal has been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. Grant aid funding of up to €100,000 is available from my Department with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs providing matching funding for successful applications from RAPID areas. Pre-development grants up to €5,000 are also available.

In the first round of the Scheme 24 successful groups, including Ballina CCTV Steering Committee-Ballina Chamber, received pre-development grants totalling €115,665 which were paid in 2006. Pobal invited these groups to submit substantive proposals by 31 January 2007. Twenty groups, including Ballina CCTV Steering Committee-Ballina Chamber, submitted proposals and to date 11 groups have been approved to receive grants totalling in excess of €1 million, again to be matched in RAPID areas by the funding from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The final amounts involved will be determined subject to the finalisation of contracts.

I am informed by Pobal that the application received from Ballina CCTV Steering Committee-Ballina Chamber for development funding is currently being appraised and it expects to make a recommendation on this proposal to the Project Board (a Board composed of representatives from Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Chamber of Commerce Ireland, Gardaí, Pobal and my Department) in the coming weeks.