Councillor seeks new system of CCTV for Ballina

A local councillor has called for Mayo County Council to examine the possibility of introducing a new CCTV system in Ballina, similar to those in Westport and Killala. 

Cllr Annie May Reape told the May meeting of Ballina Municipal District that she had put down a motion on the matter "through anger because there are so many complaints".

"We had a presentation on the security systems in place in Westport and they say it is working fantastic and they are working with the gardaí.” 

Cllr Reape referenced a letter to the Western People “where some visitor had his car damaged in Dunnes Stores car park and went to the gardaí who said the CCTV was not available under data protection”, telling the meeting: “We are told CCTV is working very well in Ballina but it is not working. So why not approve this other security system because one camera is better than two guards on the street, I have been told, so it would be very worthwhile. We can’t have people having their cars damaged in the town.” 

Cllr Marie Therese Duffy supported the call, saying “something needs to be done to get to the bottom of this and establish the best way forward with CCTV".

Cllr John O’Hara said incidents were happening more and more where motorists “just hit another car and drive off", adding: "There were two incidents in Crossmolina and another in Bonniconlon last week and the car was a write-off.” 

Cathaoirleach Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said the matter could be discussed in detail at an upcoming workshop, adding: “A new system is being installed in Killala at the moment, the same as the one in Westport, and there is satisfaction there over that.” 

Head of municipal district Anna Connor said: “We have a CCTV system in place; there is a process and the guards have to go through it with our data protection officer. The system does work; however all of this is subject to GDPR and also new legislation coming down the line and things are going to change around that. We propose to have an information session with our data protection officer because these changes will impact everybody and all our systems will have to comply.” 

Cllr Munnelly agreed to schedule the meeting, adding: “We need to keep this moving.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.