In an effort to improve criminal activity across the county, a proposal has been made for the Galway County Council to establish a number of working groups to address key crime areas.
“Litter is bordering on a county scandal,” according to Eugene Cummins, director of services at Galway County Council, who suggested that the groups be formed to tackle spiralling problems in the county.
The remit of the groups will be to look at CCTV, vandalism, estate management, and litter, consisting of up to four members of the council’s Joint Policing Committee.
The first working group will look at the installation of CCTV at key crime hotspots. Councillor Thomas Welby supported the measure, but had concerns and proposed that CCTV be used, but in a “graduated system”.
“The local authority are putting out a lot of good surveillance, but are hitting people who want to recycle” he said.
Councillor Jim McClearn agreed that fining people who accidentally leave boxes and bags at recycling centres should not be penalised for making the effort to recycle, and will deter them from recycling in the future.
The second working group will address vandalism and estate management. Director Cummins said: “In some instances there has been one property damaged on more than one occasion. Vandalism is not the remit of any one group, but a combination,” he said.
The third group will address problems of litter along the roads and estates of County Galway. Director Cummins said: “The amount of litter being thrown onto the road and estates is a big problem.”
The issue of anti-social behaviour and the impact it has on the lives of the others will be addressed under this group. Director Cummins stressed its importance saying: “We need to look at good estate management in order to improve the quality of life of residents.”
The issue of refuse collection was of concern to Cllr McClearn who said, “Some rural areas are covered by chance rather than by design. Until we address this it’s pointless to discuss illegal dumping.”
Members of the committee have been asked to apply in writing to join the working groups, and will be appointed at the next meeting of the JPC in May.
