Childers Road shooting highlights need to secure future of Limerick CCTV Monitoring Centre
Senator Dee Ryan has called for a sustainable funding arrangement to be agreed for the monitoring centre in Moyross, which oversees 227 live cameras and provides recording and playback facilities for a further 138 cameras across Limerick
THE recent shooting on the Childers Road has underlined the importance of securing long-term funding for Limerick’s CCTV Monitoring Centre and ensuring Gardaí have every available resource to protect communities across the city and county, Fianna Fáil Senator Dee Ryan has said.
Senator Ryan has called for a sustainable funding arrangement to be agreed for the monitoring centre in Moyross, which oversees 227 live cameras and provides recording and playback facilities for a further 138 cameras across Limerick.
“The recent shooting on the Childers Road, together with concerns about escalating tensions linked to an ongoing feud, has understandably caused concern in communities across Limerick,” Senator Ryan said.
“At a time like this, it is particularly important that Gardaí have every available resource at their disposal and that we continue to support the infrastructure which helps keep our communities safe.”
The Limerick Senator outlined that the CCTV Monitoring Centre in Moyross is an important part of that infrastructure, supporting approximately 365 cameras across Limerick city and county and providing a valuable resource to An Garda Síochána in preventing, detecting and investigating crime.
She said significant public investment has gone into developing Limerick’s CCTV network over many years and stressed the importance of ensuring the monitoring infrastructure required to make effective use of that investment is properly supported into the future.
Senator Ryan raised the funding of the Moyross centre directly with Department officials and senior officials from Limerick City and County Council at a recent meeting of the Housing Committee.
Last year, the Mayor of Limerick stepped in to bridge a funding shortfall and ensure the service could continue operating.
“That intervention was important, but we should now build on it by putting the service on a sustainable footing for the longer term,” Senator Ryan said.
“This is not simply an issue for Moyross. The centre supports CCTV infrastructure across Limerick city and county and provides an additional layer of security for communities throughout Limerick.”
Senator Ryan is now calling on the Departments of Housing and Justice to engage with Limerick Council to provide clarity on the respective funding responsibilities and agree a sustainable arrangement for the continued operation of the centre.
She concluded: “The recent events in Limerick have reinforced why this infrastructure matters. We should use this opportunity to provide long-term certainty for the monitoring centre and ensure Gardaí continue to have this important resource available to them.”