Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2021
172. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for the introduction of the first round of funding under the community safety innovation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57745/21]
View answer180. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeline for the introduction of the first round of funding under the community safety innovation fund. [57915/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 180 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m.
A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications for community safety projects and similar initiatives from bodies involved in community safety, such as the new Local Community Safety Partnerships – pilots of which are in place in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford – and the Drogheda Implementation Board, as well as similar entities nationwide.
Applications will be assessed against stated criteria outlined in the call for proposals to ensure funding is allocated to encourage the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who understand local community safety needs best. It will also allow best practice on community safety to be shared with other bodies involved in community safety around the country as new proposals get developed.
These criteria for allocating funding are currently under consideration and will be announced in due course.
