Ms Laura Starnes:

The answer to both parts of the question is "Yes". In our particular community alert area, a lot of robberies were happening and the gang involved came through the area. The Garda was able to trace their movements, which led to a prosecution. The sense of security that a CCTV community alert group brings to an area cannot be overemphasised. It also helps An Garda Síochána when it comes to investigating crime. It will help with regard to what gardaí might consider a minor issue but which is significant to a farmer, particularly in terms of trespass. If there is one message that we want to impart, it is the importance of sorting out that scheme. It is so difficult at the moment. Two applications are required and it costs a community up to €2,500 just to apply to the scheme.

It is so slow. We have the county councils clashing with An Garda Síochána as to who is responsible for it. There is an awful lot of money that needs to go into this, but it is so important and so successful, and the more of these we have throughout the country, the better it will be for the residents of the country and for crime in general. I hope community CCTV gets rectified soon so that we can get on and get the systems up and running.