Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Community Safety Innovation Fund will be re-opened for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Community Safety Innovation Fund was established in April 2021 by Minister McEntee and the Minister for Public Expenditure to allow proceeds of crime to be directed into community projects to support community safety. The fund was allocated €2 million under Budget 2022.

In 2022, the first year of the Fund, there were 124 applications from community projects across Ireland. 22 community projects were successful and received grants ranging from €5,000 to €150,000, with projects including once-off initiatives, and longer programmes of up to 24 months duration. Each of the three pilot Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) pilots were successful in obtaining funding for key projects identified in the development of their Community Safety Plans.

The Fund for 2023 will reopen in the coming weeks and will see the outlay increased to €3 million, as provided for under Budget 2023.