Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the roll-out of CCTV surveillance cameras on the motorway network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48245/17]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications lodged and the number and amount of allocations awarded under the community-based CCTV grant aid scheme, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48246/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting investment in CCTV systems and, in this context, my Department launched the Community-based CCTV Grant-aid Scheme in April 2017 to assist community 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.

I would draw attention, in particular, to some of the key requirements of the Scheme which require that the proposal must:

- be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee,

- have the prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must also act as Data Controller – this is a long-standing statutory requirement, set out in the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 289 of 2006), for the establishment of community CCTV systems generally, and

- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner in accordance with Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

This Scheme is based extensively on the previous grant-aid Scheme operated by Pobal on behalf of my Department between 2005 and 2013 under which some 45 Community-based CCTV systems were established operating in a mix of urban and rural environments.

Unfortunately, the number of applications received to date is well below expectations. To date, 6 applications have been received, in addition to a significant number of enquiries about the Scheme. As these applications were incomplete, they were 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.