Applications now open across Midlands-North West for Community Safety Fund – MEP Maria Walsh

Local community safety initiatives across Midlands-North West can now apply for the 2024 round of the Community Safety Fund, which reinvests proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) back into local communities, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said. 

Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-North West, said: 

“Community projects across Midlands-North West, chosen for their work on issues relevant to community safety and youth justice, could receive grants ranging from €20,000 – €150,000 under the Community Safety Fund this year. 

“It’s an innovative means of redirecting funds back into our communities, while highlighting the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau to seize proceeds from criminal activity.

“Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced this week that the fund will be increased to €3.75 million, due to its success in previous years. 

“Fine Gael is committed to creating safer streets and stronger communities, and we are always looking at new ways to tackle crime or reduce the fear of crime. 

“The funding call is open from 30th May to 26th July 2024. Applications are invited from community safety and youth justice initiatives, either from individual organisations or groups led by community organisations, not-for-profits, or social enterprises, with a preference for innovative approaches. 

“Those who have benefitted in previous years are invited to reapply, as long as they provide evidence of strong outputs from their previous projects. 

“Further information on applying is available on the Gov.ie website. I would love to see projects from across Midlands-North West benefit as much as possible from this funding, and so I encourage all organisations or initiatives that fit the criteria to apply,” MEP Maria Walsh concluded.