Limerick Council seeks €660,000 government funding for CCTV

Mayor John Moran has renewed a call for a dedicated government funding stream to support the expansion and maintenance of public CCTV infrastructure across Limerick.

Last week Limerick City and County Council voted unanimously to write to Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne, highlighting a €660,000 shortfall that threatens to keep the county’s 367 authorised CCTV cameras, including 353 approved by the Garda Commissioner, operational beyond 2027.

Of the cameras in service, 242 are live‑monitored in Regeneration areas, and council members warned that losing this capability would raise serious safety and security concerns.

Mayor Moran stressed that CCTV “has proven to be an important tool in helping to deter criminal activity, support investigations, and provide reassurance to local communities,” and urged the Government to partner with the council to fund further development of the system.

Council Príomh Chomhairleoir Cllr Tom Ruddle added that elected representatives across the political spectrum recognise the need for resources to meet public‑safety challenges as the city and county grow.

The Department of Housing confirmed that seed funding for CCTV under the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan has been winding down since 2024 and will end after 2027, and that the council is seeking a sustainable funding alternative, potentially involving An Garda Síochána.

Councillors urged the Department of Justice to address the shortfall, warning of a “human cost” if the cameras are switched off.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Elmir Jafarov / Pexels.