Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the closed circuit television grant aid system for community groups and organisations that has been offered by his Department each year for the past five years; the funding allocation each year for the past five years; the progress on plans to roll out the CCTV project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40042/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Community-based CCTV Scheme was established in 2005. It is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The Scheme offers pre-development (Stage 1) grants of up to €5,000 to enable qualifying applicants to investigate the need for CCTV in their area and to complete a detailed proposal, and development (Stage 2) grants of up to €100,000 from my Department for the establishment of a CCTV scheme. In addition to this, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs provides successful applicants from RAPID areas with a further grant to a possible maximum of €100,000.

I have been informed by Pobal, which has been engaged to administer the scheme on behalf of my Department, that Community CCTV systems are operational in 10 towns and cities around the country. Two other locations are nearing completion and a further 16 grant approved schemes are at various stages in their implementation.

Garda CCTV systems and Community-based grant aided schemes are funded from a single budget provision within the Garda Vote. The following allocation has been provided in the Garda Vote since 2005 for the provision of both Garda CCTV and Community CCTV systems:

2005 — €4.62 million;

2006 — €5.15 million;

2007 — €7.51 million;

2008 — €7.38 million.

As indicated, separate funding for RAPID areas is also provided by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.