Funding for Community CCTV and Review of effectiveness Community CCTV

​QUESTION NOS:  153 & 154

DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 18th October, 2016.  

 
 *  153.  To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding is available for community CCTV; the way a community group can apply for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                             - Darragh O'Brien

*  154.  To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the date of completion for the review instigated by her, in conjunction with the Garda authorities, on the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                             - Darragh O'Brien
 
  
REPLY.
I am very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders.  With this in mind, I instigated a review last year of the effectiveness of the Community CCTV Scheme in conjunction with the Garda authorities.  

The Garda evaluation of community CCTV systems highlights the fact that CCTV is an effective deterrent to the commission of crime and that the presence of CCTV cameras helps to reduce fear among members of the public and provides a sense of safety and security. While acknowledging its role as part of wider crime prevention strategies, the Garda evaluation also notes that community based CCTV systems have been of significant assistance in both the prevention and detection of criminal activity throughout the country. 

I am happy to inform the Deputy that I have secured €1 million in budget 2017 for a new round of community CCTV schemes in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to provide investment in CCTV systems. I am currently developing proposals so that arrangements will be in place early in 2017 whereby Community Groups can apply for relevant funding.