Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of endorsements given to a group (details supplied) in connection with the closed circuit television system in this community; his views on the need to extend the remit of the CCTV system to include all parts of this community; the discussions between his Department and this community group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23434/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems, which function as an effective tool to support policing and public safety and which can also act as a useful deterrent to crime and public disorder.

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. 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. Pobal has been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. It interacts with the applicants to the scheme, provides advice and assistance and carries out thorough evaluations of every application made.

As the Deputy is aware I recently announced grant-aid funding of €100,000 for the Jobstown Community Development Group under the Community-based CCTV Scheme. As Jobstown is a RAPID area, the proposed CCTV system will benefit from the matching funding of €100,000. I have been informed by Pobal that this application was supported by a range of local community interests, in addition to the local Gardaí, the HSE and RAPID.

I am committed to the further expansion of the Community-based CCTV programme around the country and this process is ongoing. It is intended to invite applications for funding under the Community-based CCTV Scheme periodically and it is open to any group to submit an application for funding at that stage. Further details of the scheme and relevant documentation are available on either my Department's website, www.justice.ie, or on Pobal's website, www.pobal.ie.