Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding provided in his Department's Estimates for 2017 for CCTV systems; the level of expenditure to date; the projected expenditure by the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41114/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend the rollout of CCTV systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41116/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems and, in this context, a new Community-based CCTV grant-aid Scheme was launched by my Department in April 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of CCTV systems in their local areas.

Under the Scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50% of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational. Some €1 million was secured in Budget 2017 for the purposes of the Scheme and it is envisaged that a similar amount will be made available in 2018 and 2019.

Full details of the Scheme, including guidelines, application forms, code of practice and other relevant documentation are available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie.

To date, 5 applications have been received, in addition to a number of enquiries about the Scheme. As these applications were incomplete, they have been returned to the applicants concerned to enable them to provide the information necessary to qualify for grant-aid.  Guidance is available to help local groups in both rural and urban areas to apply for this important funding and I am keen to ensure that groups take full advantage of the availability of this funding. 

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 and I would encourage interested groups to avail of the Scheme.