Criticism of CCTV grant-aid scheme

A LOCAL Councillor has criticised the government’s announcenment of a CCTV grant-aid scheme as “very disappointing”.

Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60 per cent of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000.

Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50 per cent of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational.

It is intended that the scheme will run for three years with funding of €1 million being made available each year.

Cllr O’Toole told The Echo that she is not convinced that the scheme announced is suitable or will be effective.

She added: “In my opinion the state should be installing CCTV via local authorities to ensure that the CCTV systems are installed in areas where they are most needed rather than where groups have the finances to pay for the systems.

One million euro’s for the country is hardly a significant investment and is very disappointing.

“It appears to me that the minister is more interested in ticking a box then actually doing something which will be effective.”