Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will be allocating additional funding for the roll-out of public CCTV systems nationally, as while issues around data management seem to be largely addressed, much-needed new CCTV schemes in towns and cities will not be rolled out unless funding is made available for local authorities. [38513/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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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, grants totalling over €950,000 have been approved for 36 Community CCTV schemes across the country. A further €1 million in funding was made available towards the development of community-based CCTV schemes in 2025.

The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law in December 2023, provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. In order to introduce the new regime for CCTV, Part 5 of that Act must be commenced.

There is a new requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out the procedures and standards to be followed, as well as the new rules around confidentiality, security, storage, access and retention of data and data subject rights. I am advised by Garda authorities that work is ongoing with respect to the development of this Code of Practice.

I am further advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are currently working on a new CCTV Strategy which will outline how CCTV infrastructure utilised by AGS can be modernised and integrated with other CCTV infrastructure throughout the State. It is hoped that implementation of a modernised CCTV platform for An Garda Síochána can commence in 2026, subject to funding through the National Development Plan.