Calls for full CCTV system to cover all of Ballina

Local councillors have called for the installation of a fully functioning CCTV system in Ballina to cover all areas of the town.

Cllr Annie May Reape raised the issue as a notice of motion at last week’s meeting of the Ballina Municipal District after receiving a number of complaints about the “part CCTV” currently covering the town.

“It was recently highlighted on RTÉ that CCTV, when it works well, is as good as two Gardaí on the street and can identify people,” she said, noting that a CCTV system recently installed in Killala by a Tourmakeady company has been a success. 

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly agreed that  the system has been well-received in Killala, adding: “It is a shared CCTV system bringing together businesses and the Gardaí with the firm who install and run the system.

“Any request from the Gardaí goes to the firm and it takes the responsibility of data retention, which is often quite difficult, off local people.”

Cllr John O’Hara said CCTV was very important and funding should be made available for smaller villages who would require CCTV but may not have the number of businesses needed to fund the cost of installing the system.

Cllr Michael Loftus said CCTV was a good thing but was not an adequate replacement for Gardaí on the ground.

“This system ticks all the boxes and is a positive investment, but it doesn’t mean we should have less Gardaí on the ground, we should have more,” he said. “I have been speaking to Gardaí based in Dublin who want to move back here but for whatever reason, Mayo is the hardest division to get back into.”

Head of the Municipal District Declan Turnbull said any extra CCTV would be welcome in Ballina, in addition to the fully-functioning system currently in place.

“We have 40 functioning CCTV cameras in Ballina regularly used by the Gardaí. We have a good, solid CCTV system in the town already, it is important that message gets out there,” he said.

Cllr Reape added that the installation of this system in Ballina should be done in conjunction with the town’s new Garda Superintendent Ursula Hussey, whose appointment was welcomed by councillors earlier in the meeting.

Tributes were also paid to her predecessor Supt Peter Conlon, who has been reassigned to a post in his native Co Galway.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.