Tens of thousands goes unspent on CCTV for illegal dumping in Laois

Despite ‘an awful problem with illegal dumping' across Laois, the council remains unable to erect CCTV cameras to target the culprits. 

The June meeting of Laois Joint Policing Committee was told that the council has been allocated tens of thousands of euro to spend on such cameras but they can’t use the money until the law is progressed. 

The issue of CCTV for illegal dumping was raised at the March meeting of the Laois Joint Policing Committee when Deputy Brian Stanley requested a letter be sent to Minister Eamon Ryan seeking to progress laws in relation to the use of the cameras.  

A letter of response at the June JPC meeting revealed the Government was waiting on codes of practice to be established before the use of CCTV can be progressed. 

Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin noted the reply from the Personal Secretary of Minister for State Ossian Smyth which stated work was continuing on codes of practice. 

“It is unfortunate it has been tied up for the last couple of years because we have had… funding I think set aside for installing CCTV for illegal dumping around Laois. I think it was €50,000 or €60,000 a few years ago. I would imagine that is on hold pending these codes of practice.

Will that funding still be available once the codes of practice are approved?” he asked.  

Laois Director of Service, Donal Brennan said that was a matter for another director and he didn’t have the details. 

Cllr Bergin expressed his hope that the funding would be available once all of the issues are resolved. 

“We still have an awful problem with illegal dumping throughout Laois, certainly in my area and all of the Slieve Blooms and all around Borris-in-Ossory, Camross- that area,” Cllr Bergin told the meeting. 

Refund of development fees to Laois home builders

“There is a serious problem still, particularly near the motorway. I know because I live beside a motorway bridge. Hopefully it will be something we will be able to address once we have these codes of practice in place,” he said.