DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)by Deputy Darragh O'Brienfor WRITTEN on Tuesday, 12th July, 2016. 

Question 
 
 *  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 Síochána authorities on the effectiveness of the Community Closed-Circuit Television Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.


REPLY.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to providing investment in CCTV systems at key locations along the road network and in urban centres. 
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 currently developing proposals to give effect to the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to provide investment in CCTV systems and the Garda evaluation is informing the development of those proposals.
The Deputy may also be aware that my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, made an announcement in September 2015 in relation the provision of CCTV in rural areas which is to be funded from the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.