Letterkenny CCTV Update
July 31st, 2005A quick post with an update on the situation regarding community-based CCTV for Letterkenny.
This week, I met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Gardai. Together, we’re working on an application for the next round of funding, with applications due to be submitted by September 15th. The application is being prepared by Joanne Sweeney, CEO of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce.
The plan proposes having six cameras located around the town, with a central monitoring station. There are a number of issues to be resolved, such as owenership, monitoring and funding. The Department of Justice allocates 70% of the funding, up to 100,00 Euro, but 30% of the funding must be raised locally. Much (if not all) of this funding will have to come from the Town Council budget.
By working in partnership, I’m confident we can overcome these difficulties over the next few weeks and succesfully submit an application. All sides (Chamber of Commerce, Town Council and Gardai) are committed to this process.
Update (August 2nd 2005): Today, I met again with Joanne Sweeney and Garda Paul Wallace. Work continues to see this application handed in. The application is nearly finished, thanks to all the good work Joanne has done. The application will comprehensively cover all aspects of the system, how it is to be run and how it is to be financed. The close working relationship of the Council, Chamber and Gardai shows in the quality of the submission.
Update (September 27th 2005): The application is in, with the full support (in principle) of the Town Council. I’ll be sure to update here when we here back about the application.