The council is calling urgently on the government to step in after €660,000 has been cut from Limerick’s CCTV funding.
A total of 367 authorised CCTV cameras currently in operation across Limerick are at risk of being lost, 240 of which are monitored live and have a 70% prosecution rate, according to Labour TD Conor Sheehan. These cameras have provided An Garda Siochana with hours of footage, which have been vital in investigations.
The news comes following a special meeting of Limerick City and County Council two weeks ago where councillors backed Cllr Sharon Benson’s (SF) motion to ensure the retention of this crucial service. The threat of losing these cameras has provoked “so much fear across Limerick already,” Cllr Shane Hickey O’Mara (SD) told the Limerick Voice.
This year, State funding for these cameras will drop to €550,000, leaving a €660,000 shortfall. Mayor John Moran and Príomh Chomhairleoir Tom Ruddle have written to Housing Minister James Browne seeking continued government funding for Limerick’s CCTV.
Limerick Mayor John Moran told Council members that the Department of Housing’s position on reducing funds for CCTV was made clear before he took office. “Last year I stepped up and plugged the funding gap when ministers asked for time to develop a permanent solution. Now it is time for the Government to step up to their responsibilities,” Moran explained.
Cllr Sharon Benson (SF) told the council, “It’s also important to remember why we have these cameras – it was born out of absolute necessity.” Cllr Elisa O’Donovan (SD) added, “This is designed to protect people and make our communities safer.”
Cllr O’Donovan added, “From what I can see today, Limerick is really being punished for being a success story in developing one of the country’s first Garda and Community Networks.”
The issue was discussed again last Wednesday by Deputy Sheehan at a Dáil Éireann debate, who claimed it his fourth time raising the matter. “When I raise this issue, I get a response from the Minister of State’s Department that intimates that I might be talking about community CCTV and that the Department can only fund CCTV up to €40,000,” he said.
“The issue here is that we have a specific, almost bespoke, case in Limerick because, unfortunately, we have had quite significant violence in the city,” Sheehan said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration told the Limerick Voice, “The funding and operation of local authority schemes is a matter for the local authority concerned. The Minister has no role in local authorities and information on the operation of individual CCTV schemes should be sought from the relevant local authority.”
“The Department understands that to date, the scheme in Moyross, Limerick has been funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of the regeneration programme in Limerick, with a contribution also being made by Limerick City and County Council and the Mayoral fund.”
There is not only a fear of loss of CCTV cameras around the county but also a fear of the loss of jobs without this funding, particularly in the likes of centres such as the monitoring centre in Moyross. This centre employs 11 people whose livelihoods are also on the line. Speaking on this, Cllr O’Mara stated that these workers “are part of the team keeping our city and its residents safe, we owe them a debt of gratitude.” “My heart goes out to them and their families; they must be beside themselves with worry as a result of all of this.”
Cllr O’Mara believes if the Minister for Justice came to Limerick and met with residents he would “fully understand what this means to residents as well as our under-resourced gardai.” He raised the question: “What’s the point of having a major government surplus of billions if it isn’t utilised for emergencies like this?”