Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the funding that is available for closed circuit television in communities in 2010; the schemes that can be applied to for this funding; the international best practise in terms of the effectiveness of closed circuit television in crime prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31043/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Community-based CCTV Scheme is designed to support local communities who wish to install CCTV systems in their area. The day-to-day administration of this Scheme is carried out by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Substantive grants of up to €100,000 have been made available from my Department with the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs providing matching funding for successful applications from RAPID areas. Pre-development grants of up to €5,000 have also been made available to assist local communities to develop substantive proposals in their areas.

Two major rounds of the Scheme were advertised in 2005/2006 and 2007 with a total of 13 and 30 substantive Schemes respectively approved for funding. A further 2 Schemes under the Limerick Regeneration Programme were approved in 2008. In addition, 54 Schemes were awarded pre-development grants over the same period. To date, a total of 26 substantive Schemes has been installed. Installation of the remaining 19 Community CCTV Schemes is ongoing with Schemes at various stages of implementation.

Community-based grant aided schemes and Garda CCTV systems are funded from a single budget provision within the Garda Vote. The CCTV budget allocation for 2010 is €2,375,000.

The Garda authorities are satisfied that these systems provide a valuable source of information to An Garda Síochána in the prevention and detection of criminal activity, while also increasing public safety and reducing the risk of anti-social and criminal activity.

Any further plans for extending CCTV are dependent on a number of factors, including the availability of funding, progression of the Schemes already grant aided and overall policy considerations.