Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
412. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether there are plans to expand the community CCTV grant aid scheme to address gaps in coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46703/26]
View answer413. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the level of funding allocated under the community CCTV grant aid scheme in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; the number of successful applications from County Mayo within that period; and whether additional funding will be made available to support towns seeking to improve public safety. [46704/26]
View answer415. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to introduce a more consistent national framework for the installation and maintenance of CCTV systems in towns across Ireland; and the measures being taken to support local authorities in delivering such infrastructure. [46707/26]
View answer417. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is engaging with other Departments and local authorities to improve public safety in town centres, particularly in relation to lighting, urban design, and community safety initiatives; and if he will outline any current or planned strategies. [46709/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 412, 413, 415 and 417 together.
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 and assists with the investigation of crime.
Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area, which provides grants of up to €40,000 for capital expenditure and up to €5,000 for maintenance.
This 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. Grants of over €968,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes.
The consideration and operation of community CCTV by local authorities is a matter for the local authority concerned. As Minister, I have no role in local authorities and updates on the rollout of individual community CCTV schemes should be sought from the relevant local authority.
To-date, the following local authorities have availed of funding to operate community CCTV schemes: Carlow, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow.
The attached table shows the amount of funding provided to CCTV schemes, by county, including Mayo, and by year from 2017 to-date in 2026. Please note there were no payments issued in 2017, 2025 and 2026.
The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. Part 5 of that Act, when commenced, will introduce these new arrangements. There is a requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out the procedures to be followed. As part of developing this new Code of Practice, An Garda Síochána consulted with the bodies listed in Part 8 of the Act and conducted a public consultation for any views or observations on the draft Code of Practice.
Prior to commencement, an amendment is required to the transitional arrangements in section 7 of the 2023 Act, for existing CCTV applications. That amendment has been included in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill and is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I expect that the new CCTV provisions set out in Part 5 will be commenced this summer.
With respect to engagement with local authorities to improve public safety in town centres, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced in April 2025, provides for the establishment of 36 Local Community Safety Partnerships within each local authority area. As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration I have appointed members to all 36 of these Safety Partnerships.
Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) have been established across the country to provide a more inclusive, community-led and multi-agency approach to local safety. They bring together a broad range of relevant stakeholders to address community safety issues in their area which will include residents, local councillors, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority. Each LCSP will focus on concerns identified and prioritised by local people and will develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan.
The National Office for Community Safety, an office of my Department, is providing support and guidance to local authorities on their operation.
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Summary of Funded CCTV Schemes by County and by Year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
County |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
Wexford |
51,795 |
|
|
16,802 |
|
|
19,318 |
87,914 |
|
Leitrim |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
Wicklow |
20,000 |
|
|
45,000 |
|
20,000 |
5,000 |
90,000 |
|
Limerick |
|
167,289 |
|
|
|
167,287 |
|
334,575 |
|
Carlow |
|
12,542 |
|
22,542 |
|
|
|
35,084 |
|
Sligo |
|
4,418 |
|
|
9,418 |
|
|
13,835 |
|
Laois |
|
22,969 |
22,725 |
|
|
|
30,693 |
76,388 |
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
10,500 |
|
26,000 |
|
Louth |
|
|
64,383 |
|
|
|
14,758 |
79,141 |
|
Monaghan |
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
45,000 |
|
Kerry |
|
|
|
47,877 |
|
|
47,877 |
95,754 |
|
Longford |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
20,000 |
40,000 |
|
Mayo |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Total |
91,795 |
227,217 |
127,608 |
157,220 |
9,418 |
197,787 |
157,647 |
968,691 |
