Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The development of the community safety innovation fund is a key commitment under justice plan 2022, which I believe will have a significant impact on the development of community safety projects throughout the country. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department opened applications for the new community safety innovation fund on 11 April. The new fund will use money seized from the proceeds of crime to support investment in innovative community safety projects. This a fitting reflection of the successful work of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in identifying and seizing proceeds from criminal activity. This is something which my colleagues in government, Deputy Richmond, and many others have campaigned for and sought. Many members of An Garda Síochána have acknowledged how important it is that proceeds of crime are diverted and put back into communities that are vulnerable and victims of these crimes.

The fund has an initial allocation of €2 million under budget 2022. I expect the fund to grow in future to continue to reflect the success of An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other agencies involved in denying criminal elements the benefits of their enterprises. It is important that they know that crime does not pay. Any future allocations to the fund will be subject to the usual budgetary process. An information webinar was held on 30 May to provide as much information as possible to potential applicants to the scheme. We had more than 130 attendees.

The new community safety innovation fund closed for applications for the first year on 8 June 2022. I confirm that my Department has received 120 applications from a diverse range of organisations seeking to access funding for innovative projects to improve community safety. The process of initial eligibility assessment and scoring of the applications is ongoing and will continue through the summer. I expect that grants will be made to the successful applicants in the autumn. I will let colleagues know when that happens.

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