Steven Matthews TD has welcomed additional funding being allocated to Local Authorities to provide community CCTV systems. ‘Many communities have come to me over the years seeking to improve security in the area through improved street lighting, Garda patrols and CCTV systems’ said Matthews ‘that is why I am delighted to see this significant funding now made available to the Local Authority to develop better CCTV options. In my time on Wicklow County Council, the lack of funding was always an issue, and this money will assist in some way with introducing new systems and maintaining existing systems’ continued Deputy Matthews.
‘The scheme is now open, and I am calling on Wicklow County Council to develop proposals for schemes in their areas in partnership with local community interests. I am also reaching out to interested community groups to engage with the Council to highlight the need for schemes in their areas.
Grants of over €950,000 have previously been approved to date for 35 local CCTV schemes and the new wave of funding can assist us to promote and prioritise community safety. Everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe in their communities.
The CCTV scheme has been reformed to give Wicklow County Council the lead role and to allow community groups to request local authorities to consider schemes in their area. Funding is now available to cover not only new CCTV systems but to allow funding applications to extend or upgrade existing CCTV schemes which are incomplete or obsolete.
Local Authorities can now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs.
The scheme is now open to applications, and I urge Wicklow to apply for funding. If any local community group is interested in engaging in the process to propose CCTV systems for their community, please get in touch with me’ concluded Deputy Matthews.
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