31 December 1997

By Tom Gillespie

THE TV monitoring system, earmarked for Castlebar, will not be installed for at least twelve months, the president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Pat Jennings, has confirmed.

The cameras are to zoom in on vandals and other lawbreakers in Mayo's county town as part of an unprecedented new crackdown.

The high-tech security equipment is to be erected at a number of strategic locations in the town centre to detect offenders and identify trouble before it can deteriorate into serious lawlessness.

This is one of the first initiatives of its kind in Ireland and is being undertaken as a joint venture by the Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, the local Urban Council and the Garda authorities.

It follows ongoing complaints by residents and traders of late-night rowdyism, vandalism and breaches of public order.

The cameras, it is proposed, will be linked to monitors at Castlebar Garda Station where members of the force can keep a close eye on the busier streets under their jurisdiction.

The revolving cameras will focus in on Main Street, Linenhall Street, Rush Street, Lucan Street, Ellison Street, Castle Street and Market Square.

An application has been made for approval to the National Crime Prevention Unit for the experimental scheme which is already in place at Temple Bar, Dublin, and Tralee.

The cost of putting the camera in place is expected to be in the region of £13,000.

Castlebar Urban Council has already allocated a sum of £3,000 towards the project.

Mr. Jennings said there would be no move on the cameras until late 1998.

"We are awaiting approval from the Department of Justice. Our application is still in the melting pot. Until we get that approval we will not be able to go ahead."

Mr. Jennings said he hoped the cameras would act as a deterrent. It has proven to be very successful in other parts of the country.

"We have looked at and priced the system. We are putting together funding for it. We would like to think it is coming to Castlebar but it is not confirmed yet.

"Further consultations have yet to take place with various interested bodies."