URGENT calls are being made to find an alternative funding solution for a CCTV monitoring hub based in Moyross, which assists Gardaí in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour all across Limerick.
There are already fears of job losses and additional pressure on Gardaí on account of upcoming funding cuts.
In a letter from Limerick City and County Council this week, councillors were informed that government funding for the CCTV monitoring of up to 240 cameras throughout Limerick will be reduced by 25 per cent from 2026, and each year thereafter until it ceases entirely.
The service, which currently operates on a 24/7 365 day basis, could be drastically reduced unless alternative funding is secured by the end of the year.
The Council said that while the service was “successfully protected” this year, “this was not without sacrifice – most notably, it required deferring planned maintenance and camera repairs during the year”.
Local authorities and An Garda Síochána say they worked to secure alternative funding via a comprehensive business case through the Garda Commissioner to the Minister for Justice for consideration in Budget 2026. That funding has not been secured to date.
Staff at Moyross Community Enterprise Centre were this week issued protective notices, warning of potential job losses, in a move described by the centre as “a precautionary step to safeguard their staff and operations while next steps are considered”.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, a member of the Moyross Partners Group, who did not wish to be identified, claimed that these funding cuts could see a 50 per cent reduction in services and several job losses.
The CCTV centre monitors the north and south side of the city, Regeneration areas, as well as parts of the county.
The CCTV infrastructure was initially established with funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage under the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan.
Speaking on the issue in the Dáil, Labour TD Conor Sheehan hit out that “the safety and the wellbeing of the people of Limerick is at risk if the scheme gets wound down or the cameras have to be turned off”.
“We’ve had a number of serious incidents in Limerick in the last year alone. I’m really afraid that we’re going backwards. We had a welcome allocation of 20 extra Gardaí in the allocation in August, but if this scheme gets wound down, you’re effectively nulling that allocation in one fell swoop.
“And it’s not me who’s saying this, this is coming from senior Gardaí”, Deputy Sheehan added.
The Labour TD also referred to the approval of CCTV granted for the Castletroy Greenway, Garryowen, and Rathkeale, claiming that “these schemes are in jeopardy” if the Justice Department does not introduce permanent funding.
Responding to Deputy Sheehan, Robert Troy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, noted that the “majority of funding (for the CCTV) has come from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of the Regeneration projects in Limerick, with a significant contribution also made by Limerick City and County Council”.
Minister Troy said the cost of these 240 cameras, which came in at over €800,000 in 2024, is “well outside the scope of the grant aid scheme that is administered by the Department of Justice”, with grants up to a maximum of €40,000 available for capital expenditure and up to €5,000 for maintenance under the scheme.
However Deputy Sheehan maintained that Limerick is in a “unique” situation, in that the city houses eight of the top 10 deprived areas in the country.
“It is also ultimately a cost saving issue, because it reduces the cost of investigation. It reduces the cost to the court services, because we have a higher than average guilty plea rate,” he said.
“I’m very, very worried at the moment that we have the seeds of a feud again in Limerick. And we really need these cameras to deal with that properly.”
Raising the issue in the Seanad, Fianna Fáil Senator Dee Ryan asked Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to “urgently address the gap in funding and the ongoing future for the 240 cameras in Limerick’s CCTV monitoring service”.
“Since becoming a public representative, I’ve been pushing for more investment in Garda resources, including CCTV cameras, because they give Gardaí the support they need and help Limerick people feel safe.”
In response to Senator Ryan’s submission, Minister O’Callaghan acknowledged that CCTV cameras are a proven deterrent and an essential tool in preventing and responding to crime.
He expressed hope that a sustainable solution can be found to secure the service’s future.
The Justice Minister also said he was actively engaging with the Mayor of Limerick John Moran, whom he met in Dublin to develop a “practical short-term solution” to the issue.
“This CCTV monitoring centre supports Garda operations, deters crime, and provides reassurance to residents and businesses,” Senator Ryan hit out. “This year alone we’ve had over 17 shooting incidents and 11 explosive incidences in Limerick.”
“In that context, Garda numbers and Garda supports, including the CCTV unit, must be strengthened. We cannot afford to lose this service.”