Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has announced six additional locations earmarked for the installation of Garda CCTV systems.
Drogheda, Co Louth; Dungarvan, Co Waterford; Kinsale, Co Cork; Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Portlaoise, Co Laois; and Tullamore, Co Offaly, have been added to a list of 11 previously approved locations.
"I am anxious to proceed immediately with a comprehensive request for tender to source the best CCTV service possible in these locations," Mr McDowell said during his speech at the Garda Graduation ceremony in the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, today.
"A major drive to extend CCTV coverage to provincial urban centres will take place this year and I have made available €5.1 million in 2006 to An Garda Síochána for this purpose," he added.
Thirty-seven communities have already been granted more than €1 million in funding by the Department of Justice for community-based CCTV schemes.
Under these schemes, community groups must meet the running costs of the system for at least five years and must have the support of the local authority to act as "data controller".