John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda CCTV applications that have been made to date; the number of approvals and draw downs of funding for the scheme to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct but complementary categories, namely Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Neither type of CCTV system may be established without authorisation by the Garda Commissioner under section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, among other requirements.

Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no role in that regard.

I understand the Deputy to refer to Garda CCTV systems rather than community-based CCTV systems.  I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.