Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. We are very much aware of the investment in the CCTV system for the Garda in Longford town. Work is ongoing on the expansion of the Garda station there. As part of that development, there will be a CCTV control room, which will be a state-of-the-art operation for local gardaí. This has reassured the Longford public at large. We are very fortunate in Longford that we have a very effective community policing team and this, in tandem with the CCTV programme, will be a genuine step forward.

We have had great success in dealing with low-level street crime and antisocial behaviour on estates, and much of that has been boosted and assisted through community-led CCTV projects. I emphasise, as I said earlier, that we cannot invest enough in this. I appreciate all that has been done so far. Over the coming months, when we open the new extension to the station, I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will be down and will see for herself the huge work that has been done on the ground and the enthusiasm of the local force and its determination to move forward towards a safer Longford.

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