Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the progress of an application made for closed circuit television in the east Meath towns of Duleek and Donore; when funding will be provided for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4995/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 sets out the provisions governing the operation of CCTV schemes in public areas. This includes the need for all such CCTV schemes to be authorised in writing by the Garda Commissioner. In this context, the CCTV Advisory Committee has been established to advise on all aspects of CCTV operated for the purpose of increasing public safety and reducing the risk of anti-social and criminal activity.

This Committee also examines applications for CCTV projects and makes appropriate recommendations having regard to the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act and the Garda Policy for the Operation and use of CCTV schemes. I am informed that the Committee is not currently in receipt of any formal application to introduce a CCTV system in Duleek or Donore.

I am very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders. With this in mind, I have instigated a review of the effectiveness of the Community CCTV Scheme in conjunction with the Garda authorities. The outcome of that review will inform future decisions on the continuation of the Scheme. The Deputy may also be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, made an announcement in September 2015 in relation the provision of CCTV in rural areas which is to be funded from the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.