Clare Council considers using spy cameras to catch dumpers
Officials from the Killaloe Municipal District are to contact the environmental section of Clare County Council with a view to obtaining hi-tech hidden cameras to undertake sting operations down country lanes. Illegal dumping has become a major issue in rural parts of Clare in recent years.
Almost 50% of homes in Clare are without a contract with any commercial waste disposal company. After a number of recent high-profile incidents of illegal pumping in parts of the county, councillors in east Clare are now pushing for a hi-tech approach to catching offenders.
“It’s very hard to get a conviction for illegal dumping. There is no reason why we can’t plant cameras in some areas,” said Fianna Fáil councillor Alan O’Callaghan. “People are inclined to dump rubbish where they see other rubbish has been dumped.
“We could plant an old washing machine or maybe an old television on the side of the road and we can put the CCTV inside them. That’s how we will get prosecutions.”
He added: “We need to get prosecutions. If two or three people got fined €3,000 for illegal dumping we would soon wise people up.
“There might be a small cost for the CCTV but the cost of cleaning up this rubbish is absolutely huge at the moment. It’s a big cost to the council and this could save a lot of money.”
The idea of planting spy cameras in rural areas was supported by a number of fellow councillors including Fine Gael councillor Pat Burke and Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes.
Spokesperson for the Killaloe Municipal District, Hugh McGrath, was in favour of the idea and is now to seek approval from the environmental section of Clare County Council to install hidden cameras.
“My understanding is that we can put CCTV cameras in certain areas, as long as it doesn’t impinge on people’s privacy. I can refer back [to the environmental section of Clare County Council] on this issue and see what we can do,” he said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
