Limerick risks return to 'feuding violence of the past' if CCTV funding not secured

Limerick TD Conor Sheehan said the cameras were put in place after children were burnt in a car 20 years ago

'These cameras are instrumental in keeping communities across Limerick safe. They were put in place because of a violent feud where two children were burnt in a car 20 years ago', said Labour TD Conor Sheehan.

Limerick is at risk of returning to “the feuding violence of the past”, as the Taoiseach “could not come up with €660,000”, it has been claimed.

The Government has been urged once again to fund the future of the live monitoring of the CCTV network in Limerick, which has supported tens of thousands of Garda investigations.

The local council operates 353 community CCTV cameras across four schemes authorised by the Garda Commissioner. Of these, 242 are located in regeneration areas, with about 240 cameras monitored live through the Moyross CCTV Monitoring Centre.

Employees at the monitoring centre have been warned they are at risk of losing their jobs days before Christmas, as uncertainty continues regarding future funding.

As it stands, the service costs approximately €1.21m per year. In 2027, the local council will continue to provide €330,000, while Department of Housing and Local Government funding will be reduced to €220,105. This will leave the service with just €550,105 against the annual operating cost, creating a shortfall of about €660,000.

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD told the Taoiseach it is “beyond shocking” that the Government cannot come up with €660,000 to keep the service going in Limerick — a service which has kept “communities safe for so long”.

“The prospect of Limerick CCTV monitoring service shutting down in a few weeks is causing real worry. It is disgraceful that the government has so far refused to provide the €660,000 in funding required to keep the service open in 2027 and protect the jobs of monitoring staff,” Ms McDonald said.

The issue had been previously raised a number of times, including by Limerick TDs Maurice Quinlivan and Conor Sheehan.

Mr Sheehan said failure of the Government to guarantee funding risks a return to the feuding violence of the past.

“These cameras are instrumental in keeping communities across Limerick safe. They were put in place because of a violent feud where two children were burnt in a car 20 years ago.

“Gardaí have been crystal clear that they need the live monitoring of these cameras to continue in order to police the city and county. Each camera with the live monitoring turned off effectively amounts to the loss of 20 gardaí,” Mr Sheehan said.

Mr Sheehan added that the justice minister has repeatedly ignored the issue, and has failed to meet Limerick stakeholders. 

“Drug debt intimidation is an epidemic in this country, and gardaí need the live monitoring of these cameras to tackle this in Limerick,” he added.