Kildare community groups urged to apply for new funding to help combat rural crime
Funding is being made available for community groups to help install CCTV systems to fight back against the continued threat of rural crime, with government grants set to pay for up to 60 per cent of the total cost of such systems.
Kildare South TD and Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Martin Heydon has been informed by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, that her Department has announced the grant-aid scheme to assist community groups with establishing community-based CCTV systems.
“Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50% of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational," he said.
“Some of the key objectives of the Scheme are to enhance existing policing provision within the community, to assist in the prevention and reduction of local crime, disorder and anti-social activity and to increase community involvement in the provision of legitimate, integrated responses to prevent and reduce crime in local areas in association with appropriate agencies.
“These CCTV systems will act as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour and enhance existing policing provision here in Kildare and will be of benefit to groups in Newbridge, Athy and other towns and villages in Kildare. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of €1 million being made available each year.
Deputy Heydon outlined how it is a positive step forward that will help to tackle the rising rate of crime in rural Ireland, and he also pledged to continue to work with Garda management in a bid to introduce better reforms in the future.
“I am delighted to see the Government following through on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government. Fine Gael is committed to continuing to strengthen and update Ireland’s laws to tackle new and emerging crime trends.
“We will also continue to work with Garda management and the Policing Authority to implement reforms that will provide greater confidence, protection, transparency and efficiency to crime reduction, detection and prosecution, here in Kildare.