Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his view on having closed circuit television cameras installed in an area (details supplied) in County Cork owing to the high level of incidence of crime in this area. [15729/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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CCTV Systems have become an important and effective tool which is used as a support to policing and public safety and they can also act as a useful deterrent to crime and public disorder.

Garda CCTV schemes are planned and implemented on the basis of identified operational need. These schemes are usually located within the commercial and recreational areas of our towns and cities. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans at present for the installation of a Garda CCTV scheme in the town referred to by the Deputy. I have also been informed that Senior Garda Management in the region monitor crime trends in the area on a continuous basis and they are currently satisfied with the policing service being provided to the local community.

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 of up to €5,000 are also available to establish the need for CCTV in a given area. The second round of funding under the Community-based CCTV Scheme was advertised in December 2006 with a closing date for receipt of applications of end-February 2007. I have been informed by Pobal that no application under this Scheme was received from any group in the town to which the Deputy refers. However, it will be open to local groups to apply for funding in future rounds of this scheme.