Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the rural safety forum and the commitment to develop a rural safety plan, including an update on CCTV schemes in towns. [35947/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the purpose of the National Rural Safety Forum is to develop a nationwide network for the distribution of consistent highly effective crime prevention advice, increase engagement within communities and prevent and reduce opportunities for crime.?

The Forum is co-chaired by Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman and Mr Brian Rushe, Deputy President of the Irish Farmers' Association. My Department is represented at all forum meetings, the most recent of which was held on 27 June 2022.

Other organisations represented on the forum include Muintir na Tíre, Age Friendly Ireland, Foróige, the GAA, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, the Irish Country Women’s Association, the City and County Management Association, Active Retirement Ireland, the National Transport Authority, Macra na Feirme, Neighbourhood Watch, ESB Networks and the Department of Community and Rural Affairs.

The Deputy may be aware that on 27 April last, the National Rural Safety Forum, supported by my Department, hosted a National Community Engagement Day for the first time since 2020. The Day comprised well publicised ‘meet and greet’ opportunities at over 300 venues throughout the State, where members of the public could engage directly with representatives of An Garda Síochána, IFA branch representatives and other community groups in their area, including receiving crime prevention advice. 

People living in rural communities, and indeed in all communities in Ireland, deserve to feel and to be safe and my hope is that events such as the National Community Engagement Day can nurture the already strong bonds between An Garda Síochána, community representatives and the people they serve. I was delighted to take part in the Day and met with Assistant Commissioner Hilman, IFA President Tim Cullinan and members of the public in counties Wexford, Kildare and Dublin over the course of the day.

A key pillar of the Programme for Government is building stronger and safer communities. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department funds a number of initiatives around the country to help build rural safety. In coordination with our colleagues in the National Rural Safety Forum, I intend to publish a Rural Safety Plan this autumn, which will complement the work of the Forum and consolidate the many excellent initiatives which are already underway on rural safety nationally. Officials in my Department are currently developing the Rural Safety Plan, and are engaging with the Forum in relation to the Plan.

The Deputy may be aware that Minister McEntee intends to publish the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill, previously called the Digital Recordings Bill, shortly. This important Bill makes provision for Garda powers to use modern digital technology including body worn cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV.  

My Department also administers a Community Based CCTV Grand Aid Scheme. The Scheme is intended to support local communities wishing to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and deterring illegal or anti-social behaviour.