COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE

Friday, February 01, 2008

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr

To ask the Garda authorities to report on the progress of the CCTV scheme as agreed by this committee at its inaugural meeting in October last – to also outline delays in terms of the paperwork submitted to date and if there is a system to fast-track this much needed facility for the West Tallaght and North Clondalkin RAPID areas by the Garda Commissioner once all relevant paperwork and information has been provided, so that the communities affected who have a reasonable expectation that the scheme will be in place within a short timeframe will not have to suffer any further delays?

REPLY:

The Joint Policing Committee was set up for South Dublin County following selection and approval by the Department of Justice and within the national guidelines as set by the Department. The Committee held its inaugural meeting in October 2007 and the Community C.C.T.V. Projects for North Clondalkin, Jobstown, Killinarden and Brookfield/Fettercairn areas were unanimiously approved by the Committee.

It was not possible to proceed with the Community CCTV schemes until a Joint Policing Committee for South Dublin County was established and formally approved the Community CCTV schemes.  In the meantime every effort was made to progress all the projects both in Tallaght and Clondalkin through the tender stage and ready for installation once the formal approval was sought of the Joint Policing Committee and the Garda Commissioner. The County Council did not in any way delay the formation and holding of the inaugural meeting of the Joint Policing Committee and made immediate arrangements to ensure the earliest possible presentation of the Community CCTV schemes by the promoters to facilitate an informed decision of the Committee.

 South Dublin County Council notes that there is a deficit that has arisen on the Capital Costs due to the deregulation of ESB – energy supply. The Council has been endeavoring through discussions with the Commission for Energy Regulations (C.E.R) to overcome the need for these additional costs and will continue to pursue these investigations and discussions in an attempt to achieve a resolution.  It is noted these deficits are in the total sum of €139,150 for the Tallaght Schemes.

Should the discussions with the C.E.R. and ESB not achieve the required resolution and/or compromise within the required timeframe to allow installation and drawdown of the funding approved and should funding for the deficits not be available the Council will on an interim basis provide the deficit funding required as a temporary solution.  This can only be done on an interim basis from within its Capital Programme and by a temporary adjustment to that Programme and the Council will continue to seek recoupment of any capital deficit which has been paid or drawn down to the promoters of the schemes.

The Council will commit to funding of any deficits arising on the operational costs to the Groups in respect of year 1 in the first instance and note that the operational costings for year 2 to year 5 are less certain as our efforts are continuing to establish, as discussed with the promoters, a Central Monitoring Centre for the CCTV schemes. Monitoring is being undertaken by TEC Security in year 1 as agreed.  The establishment of a Central Monitoring Centre for the Schemes should have a significant bearing on future operational costs of all schemes.  It is noted that the detailed costings for operational costs for the Tallaght Schemes in year 1 indicate a sum in the region of €16,500 to €17,000.The Council has expressed its ongoing commitment and support to the schemes and will continue to work with the project promoters towards the development of effective and professional Community CCTV Schemes.These commitments have been relayed to the promoters.