Calls for minister to intervene with funding for Limerick CCTV centre
The CCTV monitoring centre in Moyross, Limerick will close before Christmas if funding is not secured
THERE are calls for ministerial intervention in the funding shortfall for the community CCTV services in Moyross, which will cease operations just two days before Christmas if funds are not secured.
At a ministerial forum meeting, Mayor John Moran raised the issue about the funding with six Government ministers.
The Mayor stressed that these systems have saved lives and highlighted the need for a sustainable funding solution to protect these important community safety services. Minister Browne indicated that he would encourage engagement with the Minister for Justice to progress the matter, and the Mayor asked for direction on the process available to take it forward.
Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Moran said: “Community CCTV has saved lives in Limerick, and I welcome Minister Browne's commitment to encourage engagement with the Minister for Justice.
“Having a directly elected Mayor gives us a new opportunity to bring these issues straight to the heart of Government, and I will continue to pursue them until we see practical progress for the people of Limerick."
Meanwhile Labour TD Conor Sheehan said that if the CCTV service is lost, Limerick runs the risk of returning to the violence of the past.
Deputy Sheehan was speaking after raising this issue with the Taoiseach for the fifth time in the Dáil.
Deputy Sheehan said: “At the end of this year, the live monitoring of the CCTV network in Limerick will cease due to a funding shortfall of €660k that previously came from the Department of Housing through regeneration.
“I have been raising this issue for nearly two years, the local authority does not have the resources to plug this funding gap nor can it come from the Mayoral Fund.
“These cameras are instrumental in keeping communities across Limerick safe. They were put in place because of a violent feud where two children were burnt in a car twenty years ago.”
The Labour TD added: “Gardaí have been crystal clear that they need the live monitoring of these cameras to continue in order to police the city and county. Each camera with the live monitoring turned off effectively amounts to the loss of 20 Gardaí.
“The Minister for Justice has repeatedly ignored this at every juncture. He has failed to meet the Limerick Oireachtas members, he has failed to meet the Mayor and the Príomh Comhairleoir of the Council and he has ignored every single request for meaningful engagement on this.
“In fact, he didn’t even turn up at the mayoral forum or even send his apologies.
“If we do not find a funding solution to this issue now, then we risk a return to violence in Limerick.
“Drug debt intimidation is an epidemic in this country and gardaí need the live monitoring of these cameras to tackle this in Limerick.
“I am calling now for the minister to meet the Mayor and Oireachtas members to find a funding solution to this.”
At the ministerial forum, the Mayor of Limerick also brought up issues about housing progress in Abbeyfeale and delivery of housing targets elsewhere in the city and county, as well as financial pressure facing local authorities.
A number of bilateral meetings will now follow, giving the Mayor the opportunity to engage directly with relevant ministers and departments to progress the matters raised.