BYCATHERINE COOK
CCTV cameras will be operational in six areas of Letterkenny within coming months as installation works began last week.
Town Clerk of Letterkenny Town Council, Mr Paddy Doherty confirmed that work has commenced on the erection of camera poles at designated locations within the town.
Initially six cameras will be located around the Main Street and areas of the town centre. Cllr Damien Blake, who is Chairman of the Joint Policing Committee, has expressed his hopes, however, that the system can be extended into other areas of the town.
Cllr Blake stated: "The controls for the CCTV will be based in a secured room at the Public Services Centre at Neil T Blaney Road. There will be a connection from the Garda Station to this system, whereby they will be able to check in to any of the cameras as required. At this stage, it is not likely that the cameras will be monitored 24 hours a day."
The provision of CCTV cameras for the town was first mooted 18 months ago and the project was taken on by Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce who prepared the application for funding and worked closely with the Council and gardai on the issue.
The total cost of the project is in the region of ¤140,000 with ¤45,000 provided by Donegal County Council and the remainder from the Department of Justice.
Funding allocated for the CCTV system will cover the capital costs - construction and purchase of equipment, installation on buildings and poles, connection to the MAN (Fibre Optic Broadband Network), civil works for road openings, installation and securing of operations equipment at the Public Services Centre.
Cllr Blake explained further: "The cameras are very specialised pieces of kit; they have to operate with little-to-no maintenance, in all weathers, and be resilient enough to withstand vandalism (although all will be out of reach). They are connected by a series of wired and wireless data connections, through a secured link to the PSC and Garda station."
Gardai have been directly involved at all stages of the project. Under regulations, every camera has to be checked daily by the Council to ensure the images remain clear and the system is fully operational.
