Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To give clarity to the Senator, under the current directions, statutory instruments and guidance issued last September, councillors are entitled to get the full cost of an installation of a CCTV camera system in their home. They are entitled to 20% of the annual running cost thereafter. I take on board the Senator’s point. They will be issued with revised directions for expenses of elected members of local authorities. My Department officials are now working on that. I will ask them to take on board the points that the Senator raised.

I thank Senator Davitt for his insightful contribution. He brought up the wider questions about public life. I acknowledge the work of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, as well as the County and City Management Association, CCMA. In 2022, the AILG provided a training module to councillors to provide an understanding of personal security and safety risks in a number of settings and a number of particular risk types. It plans to deliver further courses this year involving senior members of the Garda.

I would be very pleased to engage with the councillors and their representative bodies. I thank the Senator for bringing up this important issue.