Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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446. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the long awaited Community CCTV extension that was awarded for Letterkenny, County Donegal will be approved by the Garda Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53728/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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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 the 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 Gardaí 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.

Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area.

The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems, but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Grants of over €950,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes.