Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on when the new closed-circuit television camera scheme, promised for the general Finglas area in Dublin 11, will be installed, and become operational. [18096/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems.

A community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005. This scheme provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two major rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme. I am advised by Pobal, who administered the scheme on behalf of my Department, that no applications were received under the two previous rounds of funding under the Community Scheme for the Finglas area.

The current position is that all available funding provided under the previous two rounds has been fully allocated and there are currently no plans to further extend the Scheme. However, the matter will continue to be kept under ongoing review in the context of overall policy considerations and the availability of funding.

Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am advised by the Garda authorities that current Garda CCTV arrangements are kept under ongoing review in the context of An Garda Síochána's operational requirements.

In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that proposals to extend the existing Garda CCTV system in Finglas are currently being examined.