Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of successful applicants under the CCTV community programme in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41276/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme 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, and

- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner.

This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of how they are funded.  These key legal requirements have not changed since 2006.  The option to establish a Community CCTV scheme is available to groups that meet these legal requirements, anywhere in the country. 

Since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area.  To date, 29 applications have been approved under the scheme, involving approved grants awarded totalling more than €752,000.  

I can inform the Deputy that no applications to date have been received from groups in County Mayo. If the Deputy is aware of groups wishing to avail of the grant aid scheme, further details are available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie and support and guidance is available to help interested groups through a dedicated email address: fundsadmin-comm-based-cctv@justice.ie

I can further inform the Deputy that once the new legislation proposed on Digital Recordings has been enacted, a review of the terms and conditions of the scheme will be carried out in the first half of 2021, to bring it into line with this new legislation.