Decision awaited on CCTV under bridge along Mayo riverside walk

Castlebar Municipal District has set aside funding to install a CCTV camera in the locus of the underpass bridge at Lannagh, Castlebar.

This camera will form part of the existing Garda Síochána system within the town.

This is a fully garda operated scheme where the council are not joint controllers.

A report circulated by elected members in relation to the matter outlined: "In accordance with Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, community CCTV schemes must be authorised by the Garda Commissioner.

"A CCTV advisory committee meets every quarter to examine applications for CCTV projects, place them in appropriate categories and make recommendations relative to prioritisation in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the policy.

"The committee is appointed by the Garda Commissioner.

As the system in operation in Castlebar is a fully Garda operated system, it is for them to make the application to add this camera to the system.

"The gardaí have agreed that the camera is required but it is our understanding that no progress has been made on their end with an application.

"We have written to our point of contact in the Castlebar Garda Station in May and July of this year to look for an update and to push for an application.

"The council has identified a suitable location for the camera that takse into account the telemetry link back to the station in Castlebar.

"We also have a procurement framework in place to procure the CCTV equipment and the civil works once the specifications are agreed and issued by the gardaí."