Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
59. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has given further consideration to the ring-fencing of seized cash to fund community driven projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19968/21]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for his continued engagement and interest in this issue. As I stated in my previous responses to similar Parliamentary Questions from Deputy Richmond, on the 21st October and 17th November last year any proposal to ring fence funding allocations would contravene a general principle of public financial management that earmarking revenues for a specific expenditure programme would constrain the Government in the implementation of its overall expenditure policy. In addition, the allocation of ad hoc and uncertain revenues to important programmes would introduce uncertainty regarding continuity of funding.
Notwithstanding this position, the continued importance of community crime prevention initiatives and the need for the prioritisation of funding for such initiatives is a matter on which both myself and the Minister for Justice are fully agreed. I am of the view that as a Government we should consider how we can clearly demonstrate to communities how success in detecting and combatting crime can be linked in more transparent ways to support for diversion programmes while respecting the principles of public financial management. I have since engaged with the Minister for Justice, as I committed to do during the course of the Topical Issues debate on this matter on 24th November last. I wrote to the Minister McEntee in January inviting views as to how funding for local services might benefit from seizures by the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána which are subsequently determined to be the proceeds of crime.
We had a constructive bilateral discussion early last month to discuss proposals in relation to community safety policy which might act as a visible means of showing a link between seizures of 'proceeds of crime' and public funding for communities. Engagement has also continued between officials from our two Departments. Following our discussions, I understand that the Minister for Justice will be making a statement shortly on a new proposed initiative, next steps and on public funding support to implement community safety proposals for affected communities.
This will assist in supporting young people at highest risk of anti-social or criminal behaviour and making our communities safer.
