Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to offer financial assistance to community groups attempting to combat anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47717/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The RAPID Programme nationally supports the development and implementation of locally led responses to anti-social behaviour and community safety. The principle resources available to RAPID areas are those provided through the budgets of the Departments and agencies involved in service delivery. The Garda resources provided to local divisions focus on ways in which targeted responses can be developed and implemented in partnership with local communities and other State agencies.

Over the past number of years, several innovative measures were introduced to RAPID areas in the area of community safety, for example, an anti-graffiti programme supported by the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and my own Department, which provided an anti-graffiti impact to a wide range of cities and towns. This Programme is now closed.

Another such measure is the Community based CCTV Programme. This Scheme, which is operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, provides financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. My Department co-funds this measure on a 50/50 basis. The programme provides for a development grant of up to €100,000 for the establishment of a CCTV scheme. The grants relate to capital expenditure only – funding is not available for the operational, maintenance and/or running costs of the CCTV system. The roll-out of successful applications under this Programme is ongoing.