A new grant scheme for communities wishing to install closed circuit television (CCTV) has been announced by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Speaking in Bray Co Wicklow at the launch of a new CCTV scheme, Mr McDowell said €100,000 per project would be available for the installation of cameras. Areas of disadvantage with pronounced anti-social behaviour and crime problems will be eligible for the funding.
Up to €100,000 more is available from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs under the Rapid (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) scheme. Rapid targets 45 disadvantaged urban areas and provincial towns and is aimed at improving the provision of public services.
Mr McDowell last month indicated to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice that he was keen to see more CCTV in local areas but the technical requirements of implementation was proving a drain on Garda resources.
Today, he said the new grants were a means of outsourcing this function, enabling approved community groups in conjunction with local authorities, to install and maintain their own schemes.
The evaluation of grant applications and oversight of projects will be devolved to Area Development Management Ltd which manages Rapid. He said the offer of grant assistance is a response to demand from local communities across the State.
"The purpose of the Scheme is to support local communities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and reducing the risk of anti-social and criminal activity," Mr McDowell said.
"CCTV systems have already proved vital to the success of a number of Garda operations and investigations, proving to be a valuable tool in the identification of suspects and in facilitating more efficient use of Garda resources," he added.
In a further step towards outsourcing, Mr McDowell announced that tenders for the installation of Garda CCTV projects would be offered from tomorrow for eleven planned locations. He hoped the systems would be operating "in the priority locations" by the end of next year.
The increase in use of cameras speeds up detection rates thereby freeing up Garda resources, the minister said.