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

One of the most important elements that I have tried to convey, which is why we had the consultation process to make it clear to people, is that the projects we want people to put forward should not be able to be funded through existing streams, such as the victims of crime funding from my Department, the HSE, Tusla, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, or any other organisation. There are various different streams, such as funding for staff of sporting organisations on an ongoing basis. We have asked about new, innovative, once-off projects that do not require yearly funding. We have also asked about projects that can be replicated across the country. I was with a community organisation in my own area, which identified that when younger children left the facility the organisation provides and moved on, it had trouble because the children came back at weekends, climbed on the roof and, while they did not cause trouble, they were a danger to themselves and potentially others.

The intention was that they would put forward a project that would involve those children in developing the space themselves so they would be part of it and it would bring them into the fold instead of them being outside of it. It is those types of projects where it is innovative, different and new. It is once-off funding. It creates safety in a way that might not be thought about in the normal sense. This is how we are scoring in making sure all of those types of marks are met. Again, it will be in the autumn. I do not have a specific date, but obviously I will let the Deputy know as soon as I can.

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