McEntee allocates over €3 million of funding for community safety projects

Eva Osborne

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has announced the allocation of just over €3 million worth of funding to 33 projects through the Community Safety Fund.

The aim of the fund is to allow the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, to be directed into local community safety projects.

Grants ranging from €27,000 to €183,000 have been awarded to organisations and community groups that have made proposals to improve community safety.

Minister McEntee said: “At the heart of our approach to community safety is the principle that every community has the right to thrive and flourish.

"This funding will help the people who best understand the safety needs of their community to develop proposals tol make a real positive difference.

"The successful projects have demonstrated their understanding of the safety needs in their community and put forward strong proposals which I believe will lead to improved safety in their areas.

“An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau have had continued success in disrupting the activities of criminals by seizing their ill-gotten gains. Putting this money back into the community is a real way to show that the efforts of law enforcement can directly contribute to making people feel safer.

“I have ensured that under Budget 2025, the Community Safety Fund will be increasing to €4 million.”

Some themes of this year’s successful applicants include projects aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, drug-related intimidation, safety on public transport, social exclusion, youth programmes, prison post-release support and more.

Many of the projects will focus on the use of education, sport, recreation, and social interaction to proactively address safety concerns in communities.