CCTV

Purpose of CCTV

CCTV systems are installed as practical measures to assist Galway County Council in the performance of its tasks that are carried out in the public interest, enhancing security, public safety, crime prevention, detection and prosecution of offenders. CCTV is used by Galway County Council for the following purposes:

• Safeguarding of persons and property located on Council premises and its environs
• Ensuring the Health & Safety of Galway County Council’s frontline staff e.g.
• Exercising its law enforcement powers e.g. the prevention, investigation and prosecution of offences under litter and waste management legislation 
• Securing public order and safety in public places by facilitating the prevention, detection and prosecution of criminal offences e.g. community-based CCTV schemes 
• Supporting An Garda Síochána to deter, detect and prosecute crime.

Data obtained using CCTV systems is limited and proportionate to the purposes for which it has been obtained.

Legal bases for Galway County Council's use of CCTV within it's premises

The legal basis for Galway County Council’s use of CCTV systems to process personal data consists of the following:

• Article 6(1) (c) GDPR. The processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which Galway County Council is subject; e.g. Health, Safety & Welfare at Work Acts and/or
• Article 6(1) (e) GDPR The processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of an official authority vested in Galway County Council; e.g. Health, Safety & Welfare at Work Acts and the Occupier’s Liability Act 2005 and/or
• Article 6(1) (f) GDPR. The processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by Galway County Council e.g. in protecting its property, assets and goods and maintaining the safety of persons using its buildings and environs.

The categories of personal data concerned

Personal data processed by Galway County Council’s CCTV systems within our own premises consists of the following:

• Images of individuals and images of activities carried out by individuals;
• Images of number plates of vehicles.

Processing and recipients of the data

Access to CCTV footage is restricted to a small number of authorised Council personnel, limited to systems within their own service areas. Any access to recorded footage must be formally approved on each occasion.

From time to time, and where required to meet legal or regulatory obligations, the Council may share personal data captured by CCTV systems on its premises with other organisations, in strictly limited circumstances permitted by law. These recipients may include

• An Garda Síochána, IPB Insurances (Galway County Council's insurance provider) and legal representatives that may be engaged by the Council, the Health and Safety Authority.
• In certain instances, the Council engages third-party service providers (data processors) to install, maintain, repair, service, or monitor the CCTV system.
• All requests for access to CCTV footage shall be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the GDPR and the Council’s CCTV and data access request policies and procedures.

Retention of CCTV recordings

Data recorded on CCTV systems will be kept for no longer than is considered necessary in accordance with Article 5(e) of the GDPR.

• Normally data recorded on all CCTV systems as included in Galway Council Council’s CCTV policy, will not be retained by Galway County Council beyond a maximum of 15 days.
• Data recorded on CCTV systems may however be retained by Galway County Council beyond a maximum of 15 days in circumstances where the data is required for evidential purposes and/or legal proceedings.
• All images remain the property and copyright of Galway County Council.

CCTV Policy

This policy relates to surveillance camera equipment (CCTV) both video and audio recording, and the gathering, use, storage and disposal of CCTV system recorded data by Galway County Council. This includes CCTV systems within Council premises, bring banks, car parks, piers, plant, civic amenity and locations in the ownership of Galway County Council, and includes the use of Number Plate Recognition Camera’s.

The policy document can be viewed by clicking on the links located in "Related Documents"

We are committed to protecting your personal data and handling it responsibly. If you have any concerns about how your data is being used, we encourage you to contact us.

How to Raise a Concern

Contact our DPO using the details below. We will listen to your concern and aim to resolve it quickly and fairly. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can escalate your complaint to the Data Protection Commission.

Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2, D02 RD28
1800 437 737 / 01 765 0100
info@dataprotection.ie