James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications in relation to community-based CCTV schemes that have been made and approved; the number of applications that have been rejected; and the number of community-based CCTV schemes that are now completed and operational. [19430/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the valuable role played by community CCTV schemes around the country in providing important reassurance to local communities and helping people to feel safer in their neighbourhoods. It is a priority of my Department to ensure that local groups are supported in their essential contributions to their local CCTV schemes, whilst ensuring appropriate, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection safeguards. 

As the Deputy may be aware, community-based CCTV is currently governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 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.

I can inform the deputy that, to date, there are currently 61 authorised and operational community based schemes. A breakdown of the approved schemes show that 35 have been approved for funding to a total value of €948,649 and the Department is awaiting completion certificates from 26. A further 5 applications have been refused and one more was returned as not enough information was provided in the application.

As the Deputy may be aware, Justice Plan 2022 commits to the publication of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill. This important legislation will make provision for Garda powers to use modern digital technology including body worn cameras, ANPR and CCTV, with a view to enactment by the Oireachtas.  The Bill will provide statutory underpinning for Garda overt recording, which will include CCTV authorised in local communities by the Garda Commissioner. The proposed Bill will repeal section 38 of the 2005 Garda Act and replace existing provisions with new CCTV provisions. This legislation can facilitate the role of CCTV in preventing and prosecuting those involved in criminal activity, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.

The General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill was approved by the Government and published in April last year. Drafting of the Bill is continuing with the intention of publishing the Bill in the second quarter of 2022. The aim is to complete the Bill's passage through the Oireachtas later this year.