More funding needed for local CCTV schemes

Councillors were not impressed by a response to their queries relating to the Community CCTV schemes at the latest Carrick-on-Shannon meeting from the office of Minister for Justice Helen McEntree TD.

Cllr Sean McGowan, who tabled the original motion, said that he was disappointed to hear that funding for the scheme was not going to be increased, which is the query he had sent to the department. 

He said it was noted at the recent JPC meeting, that the CCTV scheme was"of tremendous advantage to the Gardai". 

He said the schemes are "great initiatives needed in the towns and villages and that answer is not sufficient at all." 

He suggested contacting the department again. 

The response said that eligible groups could apply for grant aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system up to a maximum total of €40,000. 

It went on to say that the Digital Recording Act has reformed the CCTV scheme and community groups will be able to request schemes in their area through the Local Community Safety Partnerships being established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, once rolled out nationwide.

Applications for funding should be made directly to local authorities. 

Councillors were told that three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) which bring together the Gardai, community groups and local representatives have been trialled in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's north inner city. 

When the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill is enabled, it will provide for the nationwide rollout of LCSPs. 

Cllr Stenson agreed with Cllr McGowan's comments and said that Gardai at the last JPC meeting "referred to the obvious benefits of this scheme" saying that in his view, "the grant has to be increased."

Cllr Des Guckian said it was a "poor" response from the Minister with Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire saying that "every opportunity should be taken to look at the success of the CCTV scheme here in our area. It has proved itself extremely valuable to families, individuals and the Gardai."