Dozens of fines issued after CCTV nabs scores of people dumping rubbish in Kildare
Kildare County Council set up the 'trap' at a location plagued by people arriving to dump
Some 90 fines were issued to people who Kildare County Council say were reportedly found dumping.
This followed the deployment of a CCTV system, at a cost of €7,000, to an area in Athy.
According to KCC official Ken Kavanagh the experience showed that the “targeted use of CCTV at identified blackspots can act as a deterrent and support enforcement activity where other measures have proven ineffective.”
Mr Kavanagh said any future deployment of CCTV is subject to statutory processes and “would be considered on a site-specific basis, having regard to proportionality, effectiveness and cost.”
He added KCC will “look positively at the rollout of CCTV at specific locations” in consultation with councillors.
He said CCTV the benefits of CCTV for addressing littering include deterring offenders (especially fly-tipping), providing clear evidence for prosecutions, enabling remote monitoring in vulnerable areas, leading to cleaner public spaces and fostering greater accountability for environmental pollution.
At a Naas Municipal District meeting, he told Cllr Evie Sammon that councillors can designate a specific area for CCTV to be used after she highlighted dumping at Corban’s Lane in Naas.
Cllr Sammon said in some places dumping is taking place in the mornings and afternoons.
“It’s the worst thing that can happen to an area because it sets the tone,” Cllr Sammon added.
Cllr Fintan Brett said red tape should not be allowed to prevent action being taken to deal with littering and dumping.
The meeting was also told that CCTV footage can constitute personal data where individuals
are identifiable and must therefore be operated in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
The Data Protection Commission’s guidance emphasises that CCTV “must be purpose‐limited and justified on the basis of necessity and proportionality, with clear transparency arrangements.”
The traffic camera system in Kildare is controlled by KCC in Áras Chill Dara. CCTV cameras were turned off following a 2021 ruling by the DPC.
At present, the council does not have road traffic cameras in operation.