CCTV cameras will be put place in “strategic” locations across rural communities in a new plan to tackle rural crime.

Minister for Environment Alan Kelly announced funding of €50,000 towards the pilot rural CCTV initiative at the National Ploughing Championships on Wednesday.

It is understood the cameras will be placed on motorway exit and entry points to catch crime gangs travelling to target rural communities.

The camera footage will be reviewed when a crime takes place or if An Garda Síochana make a request to see it.

Dunmore in Co Laois will be the first place to get CCTV’s and it will be managed by Dunmore Community Alert.

An Garda Síochana and Laois County Council have raised €20,000 locally towards the overall cost of the project.

Mr Kelly said it was envisaged the initiative would be rolled out in two more locations with a view to expanding it to other towns and villages in the future.

He launched the initiative along with Minister for State of Rural Affairs Ann Phelan in Co Laois.

Ms Phelan said surveillance would help deter crime in rural areas.

“The belief is that because of the motorway the crime gangs can come down the motorways, get off the motorway very, very quickly in rural Ireland, do a lot of burglaries, get back on the motorway and escape very quickly,” she said.

Ms Phelan said cameras would not be installed in rural villages and towns for the initial projects.

“But I do know there is a longer-term discussions about how that might be rolled out across rural Ireland,” she said.