A CCTV system for Westport has still not been signed off at Garda Headquarters. At the town’s JPC meeting on Monday, Superintendent Aidan Foley said that the application has been submitted however there had been no progress on it and he could not give a commitment as to when it will be signed off.
He explained that this CCTV system, unlike the Ballina CCTV system where the county council is the data controller, will put the superintendent as the data controller. He is already the data controller for the community funded Achill CCTV system.
Councillor Christy Hyland said that the time it takes to get CCTV up and running “baffles me”, as in Westport “we have been talking about this for two and a half to three years”, and still there was no movement on it. He said, “There is something seriously wrong as the money is on the table for it.”
Cllr Myles Staunton said that he shares the frustration expressed by Cllr Hyland as the funds for it have been allocated by Westport Town Council in two budgets. The councillor suggested that the council writes to whoever makes the decision and ask him/her to “expedite the process”. He also suggested that the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Michael McLaughlin be willing to also meet with the decision makers.
Cllr McLaughlin said: “We are conscious that the sitting town council may not be around next year and therefore would like to see CCTV implemented,” as soon as possible.
Supt Foley said the major delay had not been with the gardaí as the documentation for the CCTV had only been done in the past five months.
