Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the conditions attached for contractors applying to the private security authority for registration on the register of CCTV and access control licence holders; the provisions in place for small electrical contractors to become licence holders; if he will instruct the P.A. to consider the introduction of an instalment system for small contractors to pay the licence fee and associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47485/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent agency under the remit of my Department, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended) sets out the activities in the private security industry which are, or will be, subject to licensing.

Since the 1st October 2012, contractors providing security services in the access control and CCTV sectors require a licence from the PSA. I am informed by the Authority that contractors seeking a licence are required to provide a valid tax clearance certificate, evidence of having obtained a standard endorsed by the Authority and a certificate of incorporation, if applicable. The standard required for the access control sector is SR 40:2005 - an Irish Standard Recommendation for electronic security services. For CCTV, both the SR 40 standard and PSA 2006:12 are required, the latter being the Authority's requirements for CCTV installation. In addition, all sole traders, partners, company directors and shareholders with a holding of 5% or more are vetted by An Garda Síochána before a licence issues.

Contractors such as those in the access control and CCTV sectors are required to pay a licence fee to the Authority and the Deputy may wish to note that an instalment payment option to assist contractors with paying for their licence has already been introduced. The PSA's licence fee structure is monitored by the Authority on a regular basis and I am advised that the Board of the Authority is, in fact, currently reviewing the licence fee structure and will consider it at its next meeting.