I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. However, I am disappointed that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is not here to respond to this matter. I appreciate that I am lucky that a Minister with the experience and expertise of Deputy Jimmy Deenihan is here and he will be well able to answer questions I have about this matter. Given, coincidentally, the theme of the matter is similar to that of the previous one, I am sure much of the Minister of State's response to it will be a repeat of his earlier reply.

I am specifically interested in hearing from the Minister of State whether the Government is considering reintroducing the community-based CCTV scheme which commenced under a previous Government in 2005 and ended in 2008 or 2009 but proved to be hugely successful. The aim of this initiative was to support local communities, increase public safety and reduce the risk of anti-social and criminal activity. I have seen this initiative in action, via the community-funded CCTV scheme in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, which has been in operation since 2008. As a member of the police committee in County Leitrim, I attended a meeting at which Garda from the Sligo and Leitrim divisions reiterated their strong support for the CCTV scheme. They also outlined, as had already been outlined to me by the Manorhamilton community group, that the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme was unparalleled. As a result of that scheme, which was closely monitored, the Garda had apprehended many culprits. In one particular instance, a person in respect of whom the Garda was in pursuit was picked up on the CCTV system. There are three roads leading out of Manorhamilton, any which one of which the alleged suspect could have taken, but because of the existence of the cameras the Garda were able to focus on the road he did take and he was apprehended. That is only one of many examples in this regard.

I am, therefore, strongly of the view - I have discussed this bilaterally with the Minister - that this initiative should be reintroduced. The Minister of State referred in his previous reply to a reduction in rural crime. However, as he and everybody else here will be well aware, perception can sometimes overrule reality. Media attention focused on stories about rural crime puts the fear of God into people such that they believe there are criminals outside their doors waiting to steal from them and goodness knows what else. This does not in any way under-estimate the horrific nature of some of these crimes, the most recent being that carried out in Tipperary, the thugs responsible for which were finally apprehended. As far as I am concerned, they will not spend long enough in prison: they should never be released. However, that is another issue.

I believe the community CCTV scheme was effective. The problem is that towns and villages do not have the resources to implement such a scheme without Government support. I understand the local business community in Carrick-on-Shannon which has been crying out for some time for a CCTV scheme has come together to fund a CCTV scheme which I hope will be up and running in the not too distant future. It should not be left to communities to fund their own schemes. There are areas where this will not be possible without financial aid. In the light of the Minister of State's earlier reply regarding the comprehensive nature of the approach being taken by the Government to addressing crime, particularly rural crime, this is a no-brainer. Regardless of the financial or other difficulties being experienced, the Government needs to prioritise this issue and that highlighted earlier by my colleague Senator Marie Moloney. It is vital the Government finds the money to address these specific issues. Like me, the Minister comes from a rural part of the country and as such he knows how fearful people are and to whom they are looking to have these issues addressed. Regardless of the colour of the Government, it is to it and An Garda Síochána that the people look for protection. It is, therefore, vital that this scheme be reintroduced as soon as possible.

Again, the Minister apologies for not being here to take this Commencement matter tabled by the Senator. She has asked me to thank him for raising it.

CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as an aid to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access such as town centres fall into two categories, namely, Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of the identified operational needs and priorities of An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

The Garda authorities inform me that they keep the current Garda CCTV arrangements under ongoing review in the context of changing operational requirements.

As regards community-based CCTV, a scheme was launched in 2005 which provided financial assistance for qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme and a total of €3.76 million was allocated to fund 43 community schemes. The last of that funding was paid out in July 2013. The Minister is very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV and with this in mind has instigated a review of the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme in conjunction with the Garda authorities. The outcome of that review will inform future decisions on the continuation of the scheme.

The Deputy may also be aware that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has recently made an announcement on the provision of CCTV systems in rural areas, which is to be funded from the rural development programme 2014-20. CCTV schemes certainly have a part to play in the detection of anti-social behaviour and criminality, but of paramount importance is a visible and responsive policing service. There is no doubt but that the Government is determined to ensure An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. The Minister has secured an allocation of a further €5.3 million to An Garda Síochána for the purchase of a further 260 vehicles between now and the end of the year. This investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government's capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021 which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles over the lifetime of the plan. This substantial level of investment will be accompanied by the ongoing recruitment of new gardaí, with 600 to be recruited next year on top of the 550 to be recruited by the end of this year.

I thank the Minister of State for his response and wish to focus on a particular part of it. He said, "CCTV schemes certainly have a part to play in the detection of antisocial behaviour and criminality, but of paramount importance is a visible and responsive policing service." He then referred to the fact that "the Government is determined to ensure An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities." I have already outlined an example of where the CCTV scheme worked in Manorhamilton, where it was a strong and effective aid to the Garda. There is no doubt among the Garda or the community that without its presence, the culprit would have got away with his crime. The problem is resources. For example, at the recent police meeting, we were informed of the figures the Minister of State has mentioned here for the additional new gardaí coming on stream, of whom tive will be allocated to Sligo but none to County Leitrim, which is a predominantly rural county. The reason is that the five gardaí will be on probation for some time and must go to a centre that has the facilities and structures in place to monitor their progress and help them become more effective as gardaí. However, in the context of the 550 additional gardaí, this is not of much help to the people of County Leitrim.

I hope that as Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and as a rurally-based Deputy, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan will put pressure on his Government colleagues to ensure rural areas where Garda stations have been closed down will get what he has said they will get - a visible and responsive policing service. However, I am disappointed that is not the case as far as my county is concerned.

I again thank the Senator for raising pertinent questions. The Minister is conscious of the value communities place on CCTV systems and has instigated a review of the effectiveness of the community CCTV scheme in conjunction with Garda authorities. The outcome of that review will inform future decisions on the continuation of the scheme. No doubt, the Senator's contribution is important in that context. The three Members present are from rural communities.

I know I am speaking to the converted. I am aware of occasions when private CCTV systems have been a major aid to gardaí in solving crimes and have proved to be important and valuable in court cases. The more CCTV systems we have, the more crime will be detected and the greater the deterrent to it. The Minister is determined to ensure those on the front line in the fight against crime have the legislation and resources to fight it effectively. Her approach is focused on two key objectives, namely, strengthening the law to make it tougher on serious and repeat offenders, principally through the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015 which is before the Houses of the Oireachtas and investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce that law effectively through the significantly enhanced Garda resources the Government is making available.

The substantial level of investment by the Government in the Garda fleet and ICT, accompanied by the continued renewal of Garda personnel, with 600 new gardaí to be recruited next year over and above the 550 to be recruited by the end of this year, will ensure the Garda has the necessary tools and manpower to tackle the scourge of highly mobile criminal gangs and to disrupt crime, particularly burglaries, across both rural and urban communities.

Owing to the level of interest from representatives of all political parties in this issue, there is a serious willingness and motivation to take on the problem of rural crime. This commitment and joint approach will help us to combat rural crime. The process is ongoing, but I believe a kind of "war" has been declared on rural crime. With the collaboration and co-operation of all the agencies involved, I believe this action will be successful. While we will always have some crime, we can now better manage this challenge. I acknowledge the work of the Minister, but I am aware that we cannot put enough resources into law and order and crime prevention. However, in the context of the current level of resources, the Minister is doing a very good job in getting what she can for An Garda Síochána and the justice system.