Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of community based CCTV schemes as detailed in applications for grants under the grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31706/18]

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. In pursuance of this commitment, a grant-aid scheme was launched by my Department in 2017 to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of some €1 million being made available each year.

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.

A total of 13 applications have been received to date and I understand that a significant number of other applications are currently being finalised for early submission.

The average total cost of the systems in relation to which applications have been received by my Department is over €46,000. However, this average total cost would include systems which have not yet reached the statutory requirements for community CCTV or the eligibility requirements for the scheme.  It may interest the Deputy to note that the average total cost of the community CCTV systems which have met the criteria and have been approved for grant-aid to date is approximately €65,000.

I am keen to ensure that all interested groups, in both rural and urban areas, take advantage of the availability of this grant-aid scheme. Full details of the grant aid package are available on my Department's website .  In addition, my officials are available to provide assistance and guidance to any interested party in relation to the scheme, with a dedicated email address available for that purpose - .

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of installing a Garda operated and controlled CCTV system at a motorway junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31707/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that it is difficult to provide a specific figure as the requirements for each proposed CCTV system depend on a range of location-specific factors.  A specification and associated projected cost could be estimated only following full survey and design.

In particular, I am informed that CCTV systems are complex by their nature. I am informed that among the key items to be considered in any case and which would impact on the costs involved are the number of lanes to be covered by CCTV, provision of a suitable gantry or pole, the availability of electrical power and availability of a network route to transmit the CCTV images to the Garda control point and to transmit commands to the camera in the case of remote control.

Accordingly, given the range of factors which can impact on costs, it is not possible to provide an initial costing for Garda CCTV systems on motorway junctions. However, I can confirm that the Garda Vote contains an annual allocation of some €1.5 million for the maintenance and upgrade of Garda CCTV systems.