Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 493 together.

The Deputy will be aware that restrictive measures, or sanctions as they are generally referred to, are a tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. They are predominantly discussed at the EU's Foreign Affairs Council, with decisions subsequently taken at the Council of the European Union.

Ireland has strongly supported the adoption of sanctions in relation to Israeli settlers involved in violence and serious human rights violations or abuses in the West Bank under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. This was adopted on 19 April and the listed individuals will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban. Implementation by Ireland of sanctions measures is the responsibility of several Government departments and agencies. My Department is following up in relation to the travel ban.

As my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has indicated, Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to ensure that appropriate action is taken and will consider any proposals made to further address human rights abuses arising from the ongoing conflict.

While West Bank settler organisations are subject to restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanction Regime, I am informed that no such organisation has been designated by the EU as a terrorist organisation at this time.

On the question of proscription under Ireland's terrorism legislation, I can inform the Deputy that the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which was enacted with particular application to international terrorism, provides that any organisation engaged in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity is an unlawful organisation within the meaning and for the purposes of the 1939 Act. This is the case whether the organisation is inside or outside the State, or whether the terrorist activity occurs in or outside the State.

As the Deputy will be aware, the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Office of the DPP.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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494. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding allocated to projects in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas out of the community safety initiative/community safety innovation fund; the details of the initiatives funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19028/24]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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495. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether community safety initiative/community safety innovation fund monies can be used to support public realm space/park improvements in areas which have suffered from criminality; if so, if she will point to successful examples of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19029/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department established the Community Safety Innovation Fund in 2021. The fund uses the money seized by An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau as the proceeds of crime to fund new, innovative community safety projects. The fund increased from €2 million in 2022 to €3 million last year and I was delighted to see it increase again to €3.75 million in Budget 2024. 22 successful projects received funding in 2022 and a further 30 projects received funding in 2023.

Under the CSIF 2023, applications were invited from existing 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. Applications could also be submitted by individual organisations, or by a consortium involving two or more organisations where the lead partner is a community organisation, not-for-profit, social enterprise or similar with a remit relevant to community safety and/or youth justice.

There have been two successful projects funded in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 to date. In 2022, the Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force received €120,000 for the ‘Base Bus’ project. It aims to redefine places of anti-social behaviour into more positive social environments by providing early intervention and preventative action in open drug use, street drinking, intimidation and encouraging positive interaction between older community members, young people and families. It involves the purchase and outfitting of a bus for a mobile access project which will enable enhanced outreach, presence and coverage at evenings and weekends as well as increased capability to engage with individuals and trust building activities.

Under CSIF 2022, Dublin City University (DCU)’s ‘Moving Well-Being Well’ (MWBW) project received €103,546. This programme aims to get children moving and involved in physical activity. MWBW focuses on increasing physical literacy in young children in order to give them the tools required to be active for life. The project runs interventions in schools and communities within the Local Community Safety Partnership Pilot areas of Dublin’s North Inner City, Longford and Waterford. The project is a collaboration between DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance, the GAA and the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics.

In relation to public realm improvements, under CSIF 2022, the Dungarvan Community Project by Waterford LCSP was granted €41,403 for the redevelopment of a derelict community garden through a community horticulture project, alongside the reopening of a vacant community house. The project aims to divert young people who are engaging in low level anti-social behaviour in the area into a community activity promoting personal ownership.

In 2023, the Enniscorthy Community Alliance received €150,000 for a project that focuses on public realm improvements. Enniscorthy Community Plants and Places aims to provide opportunities for youth within the town to get involved in community gardening, public realm improvements, sustainability initiatives and place-making to support their learning and development, mental health and develop positive community engagement opportunities.