Community CCTV scheme
Deputy Declan Breathnach says the community CCTV scheme is failing because only a small fraction of the available fund has been drawn down. The Taoiseach agrees to have his office examine what can be changed to make the scheme more operational.
The programme for Government gives a commitment to tackle crime-----
Comment on this
Sorry, I ask the Deputy to hold on. There are many Deputies who are using body language to indicate to me that they were first, second or third. I can only take Deputies as I find them and I have time to write down their names. We are six minutes over. I ask Deputy Breathnach to show the others how to ask a question.
Comment on this
I will have the question asked in one minute from now.
Comment on this
I am not interrupting but it is important to make it clear. I am not depriving anybody but I will cut it shortly.
Comment on this
The programme for Government gives a commitment to tackle crime, and CCTV surveillance plays a large role in that. There are two schemes, the Garda CCTV scheme and the community scheme. The community scheme is not working. Twenty-two applications have drawn down about €500,000 of a €3 million fund. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality examine what statutory instruments or laws can be changed such that the data controller would involve a combination of the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the CEOs of local authorities to draw down this money and deal with criminality and crime, particularly in the Border area.
Comment on this
We are very keen to see the money for community CCTV drawn down. There have been difficulties in some places around who is or who is not the data controller. The Deputy raised this with me personally earlier and I will ask my office to look at it and see if there is anything that can be done to make these programmes more operational.