Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 597 of 27 November 2007 the reason for the delay in installing the already agreed closed circuit television network; if a time frame has been set for the system to be installed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32587/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the CCTV system referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 597 of 27 November 2007 is one which is proposed to be developed under the Community-based CCTV Scheme, which is designed to support local communities who wish to install CCTV systems in their area in order to enhance public safety and reduce the risk of anti-social and criminal activity.

The group involved applied under the Scheme and its proposal was evaluated by Pobal, which operates the scheme on behalf of my Department, and approved in the normal way. The application was successful and I have announced the award of the grant to the group of €200,000, which comprises €100,000 from my Department and matching RAPID area funding of €100,000 from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The grant will enable the group involved to progress the implementation of its proposed CCTV system.

It is now a matter for the group to conclude contracts for the supply of the system, to establish a time frame and to proceed to implement its CCTV system. The overarching aim of the scheme is to empower local groups, in partnership with the local authorities and An Garda Síochána, to develop their own CCTV systems and have ownership of them. As I have indicated previously to the Deputy, full details of the Community-based CCTV Scheme, which includes the approval process for award of the grants, are available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie) or from the Pobal website (www.pobal.ie).