Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an evaluation of the effectiveness of closed circuit television schemes funded by Pobal has been undertaken. [35847/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the changes that have been introduced to subsequent closed circuit television schemes funded by Pobal since the programme was first introduced. [35848/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of closed circuit television schemes funded by Pobal that are subject to live monitoring. [35850/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 370 and 372 together.

The Community-based CCTV Scheme is funded by my Department and joint funding is also available from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for successful applications from RAPID areas. The purpose of the scheme is to engage local communities in enhancing community safety by supporting the Gardaí to tackle criminal and antisocial behaviour and also in helping to counteract the fear of crime. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal which carries out thorough evaluations of each application under the scheme and also provides advice and assistance to applicants. Pobal has not evaluated the Community-based CCTV Scheme as yet. Projects funded under the scheme began to come on stream gradually throughout 2007 and it is considered too early to undertake an evaluation at this stage. However, planning for such an initial evaluation is currently underway. The only significant changes which have been introduced to the Community-based CCTV Scheme since it was introduced in 2005 are those arising from the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which came into effect in 2006. These relate to the requirement for all proposals to be authorised by the Garda Commissioner and the role of the relevant local Joint Policing Committee. All of the projects which are up and running are subject to monitoring. However, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to indicate precise monitoring arrangements at each location. In addition to monitoring of images, images are recorded and can be reviewed at short notice when required.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in which closed circuit television schemes funded by Pobal played an enabling role. [35849/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions that closed circuit television schemes funded by Pobal have resulted in a call out to gardaí to intervene in a live public order or criminal situation. [35851/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 373 together.

The Community-Based CCTV Scheme is designed to support local communities who wish to install CCTV systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and reducing the risk of criminal and anti-social activity. The day-to-day administration of the Scheme is carried out by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Under the Scheme grant funding is provided by my Department to local groups to assist with the capital costs of installing a CCTV system. Matching funding is available to successful applications from RAPID areas from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Public and private CCTV systems are an invaluable source of information and intelligence to An Garda Síochána in the prevention and detection of criminal activity. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the specific information requested by the Deputy relating to CCTV systems is not readily available and would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to collate.