merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D., today announced a new grant-aid scheme to assist community groups to assist the establishment of community-based CCTV systems.
Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50% of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational.
Some of the key objectives of the Scheme are to enhance existing policing provision within the community, to assist in the prevention and reduction of local crime, disorder and anti-social activity and to increase community involvement in the provision of legitimate, integrated responses to prevent and reduce crime in local areas in association with appropriate agencies.
The Tánaiste said “I am delighted to announce this scheme, which delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to provide investment in CCTV systems. The commitment is also included in the Action Plan on Rural Development.”
She added “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. In addition, it serves to reduce the fear of crime. With this in mind, I secured €1 million in Budget 2017 to support qualifying community groups who wish to establish CCTV systems in their areas and I would now encourage them to avail of the scheme”.
It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of €1 million being made available each year.
The scheme aims to build on the previous Department-funded community-based CCTV scheme which was launched in 2005 and which funded the establishment of some 45 Community CCTV systems. The last of that funding was paid out in July 2013.
Applications under the scheme can be made to the Department of Justice and Equality and the application form and explanatory material are available for download on the website of the Department at www.justice.ie.

Notes for Editors
The proposed scheme arises in the context of the Programme for Government commitment to provide investment in CCTV systems. It is also contained in the Action Plan for Rural Development.
The Tánaiste secured €1 million in Budget 2017 for the scheme and work has been ongoing in the Department to develop the operational framework, which is envisaged to run for 3 years with funding of €1 million being available each year.
Under the scheme, a grant of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system will be made available subject to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval for the grant, the applicant will receive 50% of the amount up front with the balance to be paid when the Department is satisfied that the system is operational and in line with the code of practice.
The new scheme aims to build on the previous Department-funded community-based CCTV scheme which was launched in 2005, operated by Pobal and which provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. Under that scheme, some €3.96 million was allocated to fund 45 Community Schemes with the last of the funding being paid in July 2013.
In order to qualify for grant-aid:
* the application must have been approved by the local joint policing committee;
* the proposal must comply with the CCTV Code of Practice which sets out the conditions which must be adhered to by applicants for grant-aid;
* the proposal must comply with the Garda Technical Specifications which set out the standard of equipment that should be used for proposed CCTV systems; and
* the applicant must have received an authorisation from the Garda Commissioner under section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
These were essentially all requirements under the previous scheme.
The key objectives of the Scheme are to:
* enhance existing policing provision within the community;
* assist in the prevention and reduction of local crime, disorder and anti-social activity;
* increase community involvement in the provision of legitimate, integrated responses to prevent and reduce crime in local areas in association with appropriate agencies;
* facilitate the detection and investigation of offences;
* reduce the fear of crime; and
* assist in the possible prosecution of offenders.
Full details of the scheme and the relevant forms are available for download on the website of the Department of Justice and Equality at www.justice.ie.