CCTV 'would enhance public safety'
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| Pic: Oliver Peters. |
Inspector Oliver Henry said that if it was decided locally to go for such a system, the Garda would work with the community on the idea. However, he noted that such systems can 'put a burden on a community' in terms of cost and ongoing operation.
"The cost has come down significantly," he added, saying that Athy had received a Town & Village Renewal Scheme grant towards the €80,000 cost of their system. He suggested that a system for Kilcullen wouldn't cost so much, perhaps €20,000 of locally-raised money along with available grants.
Deputy Martin Heydon said he had attended a meeting in Moone where they had expressed a 'strong interest' in CCTV. "The grants are there, but the take-up on the systems has been low because of the costs to communities. There's also a challenge on data protection, but other counties have dealt with that and I'd want to see why Kildare and Laois can't."
The deputy added that there would be no greater deterrent to mobile criminals if there were four cameras at every motorway junction. "I'd hope that by the next AGM of this group we would have a model in place."
Inspector Henry said there would be a 'huge' advantage in thinking about the CCTV idea in a 'strategic' way.
