Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, 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, there have been 35 successful applications to the community-based CCTV grant scheme with grants totalling €948,649.16 awarded. It is envisaged that the scheme will continue beyond 2023, as the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 which will reform CCTV schemes, is currently before the Oireachtas.

The Community-based CCTV scheme is currently governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 2006), GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must:

• be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee,
• have a data protection impact assessment prepared,
• have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must act as a joint data controller with An Garda Síochána and a joint data controller agreement must be put in place,
• have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner.

Under the new Bill, community groups will be able to request schemes in their area. It is envisaged the Local Community Safety Partnerships being established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, will be the appropriate avenue to do so, given that local residents, Local Authority staff, Councillors and members of An Garda Síochána will all be represented on the partnerships.

The Local Authorities will take the lead and make the applications going forward and have full responsibility for the implementation and management of the data protection aspects of having a scheme in place.

I can inform the Deputy that the current scheme is still open for applications and the necessary funding is in place.