Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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108. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ring-fence a portion of moneys confiscated by the Criminal Assets Bureau to help victims of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16901/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund, which will enable local communities to seek funding for innovative projects which will improve community safety in their areas.

This fund will reflect the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau and other agencies by using money seized from the proceeds of crime to support investment in community safety projects. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay of €2m.

Justice Plan 2022 commits to opening a call for funding proposals. This call will issue shortly seeking applications for community safety projects and similar initiatives from bodies involved in community safety, such as the new Local Community Safety Partnerships – pilots of which are in place in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford – and the Drogheda Implementation Board, as well as similar entities nationwide.

Applications will be assessed against stated criteria outlined in the call for proposals to ensure funding is allocated to encourage the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who understand local community safety needs best.

I intend to announce the criteria for allocating funding, with the fund due to be launched in the coming weeks.