CCTV project proposed for this Kildare town has been put on ice

A CCTV pilot project which was proposed for one County Kildare town has been paused.

An update on the scheme was provided by Kildare County Council (KCC) at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which took place on Friday, December 5 last.

The topic came about when Social Democrats Cllr Paula Mulroe asked KCC to provide an update on the pilot Community CCTV Scheme which is being planned for both Derrinturn and Clane.

In response, KCC issued a lengthy report in response to her query.

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It explained that a pilot Community CCTV scheme was being prepared for Clane, with consultants appointed and a provisional design completed, prior to seeking authorisation under Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

KCC elaborated: "Following Clane’s designation under the Town Centre First initiative, the CCTV Subcommittee resolved that, in the interest of value for money, the project should be paused.

"This decision was based on the fact that the proposed CCTV intervention area substantially overlaps with the Clane Town Centre First plan."

KCC added: "Any works undertaken for the CCTV scheme along Main Street could potentially require removal or alteration as part of the Town Centre First works; it was therefore considered prudent that both initiatives be coordinated to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness."

'NO FUNDING OR RESOURCES AVAILABLE'

Furthermore, KCC explained that while funding has been allocated by the members "to allow the Clane CCTV project to proceed when appropriate", there has been no progress made in establishing a Community CCTV scheme for Derrinturn, "as no funding or resources have been identified for such a scheme at this location".

KCC also outlined the legal provisions relating to the scheme: "Members should note that the establishment of Community CCTV schemes by a Local Authority is governed by Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and Section 28 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023.

"These provisions impose significant legal requirements, and each scheme must be assessed individually.

"Under the legislation, the establishment of Community CCTV schemes by a Local Authority requires authorisation and consultation with the local Joint Policing Committee (S4 of SI 289 of 2006 & S28(3)(c) of Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023) prior to submission of an application to the Garda Commissioner."

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'NO MECHANISM AVAILABLE'

KCC then told the members that because there is currently no Joint Policing Committee in place to provide this authorisation, there appears to be no mechanism available for Local Authorities to apply for the establishment of Community CCTV schemes currently.

"In addition, the 2023 Act also requires a Code of Practice for CCTV, with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, and it is expected, also, the Local Authority sector," KCC added.

Lastly, KCC said: "It is understood that this matter rests nationally with An Garda Síochána to progress."

Cllr Mulroe in turn told KCC that she welcomed the report, and also said: "I know there is very little that we can do with Strategic Policy Commitees [also known as SPCs] and the alternatives to them are not here yet, but can we write to the Garda Superintendent about it?"

Replying to Cllr Mulroe's comments, KCC official Marian Higgins said: "There is no legislisation underpinning it; it's a complex area.

"You have to ensure that every avenue has been exhausted before you go down this route."

She also said that she has mentioned the matter to the local Garda Supt.

However, she also stressed to the attendees: "I wouldn't understimate the complexity of installing CCTV."

In addition, she suggested that the councillors could look into using Local Property Tax funds in order to progress the scheme for Derrinturn next year.

Social Democrats Cllr Paula Mulroe. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.