Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the investment by his Department in CCTV since the commitment given in the confidence and supply agreement to invest in CCTV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16491/18]

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 at key locations along the road network and in urban centres.  This commitment is being progressed in a number of ways.

In pursuance of this commitment, a Community-based CCTV grant-aid Scheme was launched by my Department in April 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas.

Under the Scheme, which is being administered by my Department, 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. It is intended that the Scheme will run for 3 years from April 2017 with funding of some €1 million being made available each year.

To date 4 applications under the scheme have been approved, with approved funding totalling almost €120,000 with schemes to be established in County Wexford and County Wicklow.

A further 4 applications are under active consideration and another 3 applications have been returned to the applicants concerned, to enable them to provide the information necessary to qualify for grant-aid.

That scheme supplements the existing network of CCTV systems in operation in the State.  I understand there are some 35 Garda CCTV schemes in operation throughout the State comprising in excess of 500 cameras.  In addition, there are some 45 Community-based CCTV schemes in operation encompassing over 360 cameras to which An Garda Síochána have access, supported under the previous grant-aid scheme funded by my Department between 2005 and 2013.

As a condition of the scheme, there is a requirement for prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must 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 and proper functioning of community CCTV systems generally.

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

Regarding the road network, I can confirm that services under the Garda Safety Camera contract commenced in May 2017 and provide an annual minimum of 90,000 hours of monitoring and surveying vehicle speed across 1,031 designated safety camera zones.

Further, it should be noted that expansion of the use of technologies including CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition is included under the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021.  The intention in this regard is to utilise modern technology to identify key criminal and terrorist targets and to enhance community safety.

These developments are underpinned by significant Government investment under the Capital Plan of some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT; as well as some €46 million to provide An Garda Síochána with additional high-powered vehicles to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.