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 and it is also effective in deterring criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.
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.
Specifically, 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 and I am advised that this work is at an advanced stage.
Officials within my Department are in close contact with An Garda Síochána with a view to assisting them in progressing codes and other issues which need to be finalised for commencement to take place.
I understand that the draft CCTV Code of Practice is being finalised prior to commencing a consultation process as required under Part 8 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023. This consultation is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
As the Deputy 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, which provides grants of up to €40,000 for capital expenditure and up to €5,000 for maintenance.
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. Grants of over €950,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are currently working on a new CCTV Strategy which will outline how CCTV infrastructure utilised by Gardaí can be modernised and integrated with other CCTV infrastructure throughout the State. It is hoped that implementation of a modernised CCTV platform for An Garda Síochána can commence in 2026.
