Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reduce the local financial contribution that is needed to provide and maintain community-based CCTV schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52205/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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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 as the vehicle to provide financial assistance to community groups looking to establish 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.

The terms of the Scheme were developed on foot of research in relation to such systems undertaken by my Department and having due regard to the finite resources available.

If the Deputy is aware of any Groups that wish to avail of the Scheme but have not done so to date, I would ask him to let me know and I will ensure that they are given whatever support they require in order to make an application. In this context, my officials recently met with Irish Rural Link as well as some community representatives in relation to the Scheme. This level of engagement is encouraging and my Department continues to receive a significant number of enquiries about the Scheme.

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 - .