Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
39. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on when the community safety innovation fund successful projects are expected to be announced; the total number of applications received; the future plans to expand the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Community Safety Innovation Fund was established in April 2022 and €2 million was allocated to it under Budget 2022. This will increase to €3 million next year under Budget 2023.
I can confirm for the Deputy that 22 community projects across the country will receive grants ranging from €5,000 to €150,000, totalling €2 million, under the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
The fund opened for applications in April 2022 and a total of 124 applications were received by the deadline of 8 June. The allocation of funding was announced on 17 October and a full list of successful projects is available on my Department's website.
The funding call for the Community Safety Innovation Fund invited applications from community safety initiatives as well as groups co-funded with local authorities, NGOs and community organisations working on issues relevant to community safety and youth justice.
The Fund reinvests the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau in local projects to build stronger, safer communities. Each successful project has detailed how best the community wants to prevent crime and their proposals reflect community priorities and local safety issues.
Based on the high quality of proposals received, I believe the successful projects have the potential to have a real impact on their respective communities. I also want to encourage those who applied this year but did not receive funding to consider applying again next year.
