442. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the commencement of part 5 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, in view of his Department accepting new applications for the community-based CCTV grant aid scheme. [67055/26]

Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities. CCTV in public places has a role in giving people a greater sense of security. It can also be effective in deterring criminal activity and antisocial behaviour while also assisting with the investigation of crime.

The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes, allowing for a member of Garda personnel or a Local Authority to apply in writing to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for an authorisation of CCTV. Part 5 of this Act relates to public CCTV.

Prior to commencement, the Garda Commissioner was required to draft a code of practice for CCTV in line with Part 8 of the Act. The consultation on that code of practice has been completed. An amendment to section 7 of the Act that provides for transitional arrangements for existing CCTV applications was also required. That amendment was included in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Act 2026 which was signed into law by the President on 16 July 2026.

The Commencement and Ministerial Orders, including the code of practice, are currently with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) for drafting and I expect that the new CCTV provisions set out in Part 5 will be commenced within the next few weeks.