Gary Gannon
Question:
302. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the supports available to install further CCTV cameras on Blessington Street in order to manage the rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour and open drug dealing taking place in the area (details supplied) in view of the safety concerns continuously raised by residents of Sackville Court/Blessington Street, Dublin.
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 24 September 2024 where you sought: “…the supports available to install further CCTV cameras on Blessington Street in order to manage the rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour and open drug dealing taking place in the area (details supplied) in view of the safety concerns continuously raised by residents of Sackville Court/Blessington Street, Dublin.”
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.
As you will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for granting authorisation for any of Community CCTV applications by law. As this authorisation is required before any Community CCTV scheme can be established, and because this authorisation is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I trust you can appreciate that I cannot intervene or direct An Garda Síochána in relation to such.
However, I have requested information from Garda Authorities in order to answer your question. I am advised that An Garda Síochána are in consultation with Dublin City Council in respect of installing additional CCTV cameras across Dublin City.
Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV plays a vital role in achieving this goal. As you may be aware, since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area.
The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems, but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs.
Grants of over €950,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes. A further €1 million in funding has been made available towards the development of community-based CCTV schemes in 2024. Applications for funding are now open and can be made directly by the relevant Local Authorities.
This level of funding underlines my commitment to working with communities to ensure everyone feels safe.
The legal framework which provides for the operation of community CCTV requires that any proposed scheme must:
• be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee (to be replaced in the near future by Local Community Safety Partnerships),
• have a data protection impact assessment prepared,
• have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must act as a joint data controller with An Garda Síochána and a joint data controller agreement must be put in place, and
• have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner.
The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law in December last year, will reform CCTV schemes. Under the Act, community groups will have a greater say in keeping their community safe as they will be able to request schemes in their area.
In tandem with this, the Act also provides for Garda use of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The Act is to be commenced in stages.
It is envisaged that the Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs), which are being established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to replace Joint Policing Committees, will be the appropriate body to request community CCTV schemes in the future. Local residents, Local Authority staff, Councillors and members of An Garda Síochána will all be represented on the Partnerships, and are best-placed to know how CCTV can be appropriately utilised in their area. As you are aware, there is a pilot Local Community Safety Partnership in the North Inner City and this LCSP can be utilised to seek the installation of CCTV cameras in the area you have referenced.
You may be also interested to note that a number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities. These include:
• setting up an expert forum on antisocial behaviour
• expanding youth diversion to the 18-24 year old age group
• implementing the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027
• creating a criminal offence in respect of adults who groom children into criminality, which is now in place
• delivering a programme to tackle the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which is chaired by Minister of State James Browne, is also developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to such behaviour and its impact on community morale and quality of life.
I hope this information is of assistance.
