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Minister for Justice Simon Harris will today open the Community Safety Innovation Fund for new applications for 2023 as he attends the launch of the new Community Safety Plan for Waterford.
The Community Safety Innovation Fund has been increased to €3 million for 2023 and, along with the new Community Safety Partnerships and Community Safety Plans, is central to the government’s commitment to building stronger, safer communities.
The Fund, established in April 2021 by Ministers Helen McEntee and Michael McGrath, uses money seized by An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau as the proceeds of crime to fund innovative new projects to support community safety.
Last year a total of €2 million was granted across 22 projects, with the fund increasing to €3 million in 2023.
The Minister for Justice said:
“I am delighted to today open applications for the 2023 Community Safety Innovation Fund.
“Last year saw 22 innovative new projects receive funding, including the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership, and I am delighted to see the fund increase to €3 million this year.
“The Fund highlights the successes of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau and ensures these successes will be used to create stronger, safer communities.
“The Fund is open to bodies involved in community safety and will support them in addressing local needs and opportunities for innovation not provided for in other funds managed by departments and agencies.”
The call for applications for the Fund runs from 27 March until Friday 19 May 2023 and grants will range from €20,000 to €150,000.
Completed application forms are to be returned by 5pm on 19 May 2023 to CommunitySafetyInnovationFund@justice.ie
For more information visit: 2023 Community Safety Innovation Fund: Funding call.
Minister Harris will also today launch the Waterford Safety Plan 2023-2028, which has been produced by the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership - one of three such pilot Partnerships operating at the moment.
There other pilots are in Longford and Dublin’s North Inner City, with a full national rollout of Community Safety Plans scheduled for 2024.
These Partnerships act a forum to create dialogue and collaboration between community representatives and relevant State agencies such as An Garda Síochána and social services, with view to identifying issues and solutions to factors contributing to anti-social behaviour, crime and other quality of life issues in local areas.
Welcoming the publication of the Waterford LCSP’s Safety Plan 2023-2028, the Minister said:
“A key element of our policy on building safer and stronger communities is that communities themselves have a crucial role to play. There is no one size fits all approach, because each community has different needs and challenges. The people living and working in communities are best placed to know what the key issues affecting an area are, and are best placed to identify solutions that can be delivered collaboratively to improve community unity and safety.
“I am pleased that the consultations carried out by the Waterford Partnership show that the majority of respondents feel safe in Waterford. However, Waterford is not exempt from the issues which give rise to community concerns and adverse perceptions by individuals about their personal safety.
“This plan will ensure that communities across Waterford city and country can thrive and flourish, through collaborative actions to prevent and deter crime and harmful behaviours. It will also address many broader contributory factors such as improved access to education, tackling substance misuse, and confronting illegal drug dealing and intimidation.
“I would like to commend the Partnership on the excellent work they have done in preparing this plan and thank the Partnership’s Chair Sean Aylward for his leadership. The success of the Partnership model in Waterford, Longford and Dublin’s North Inner City will inform the roll-out of these partnerships nationwide.”
The Waterford Local Safety Partnership’s Safety Plan will be launched today.
The Community Safety Innovation Fund was announced in April 2021 by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath.
The open call for the 2022 Community Safety Innovation Funding ran from 6 April 2022 to 8 June 2022 and 124 applications were received.
A further €1 million in funding was allocated in Budget 2023 bringing the total of this year’s fund to €3 million.
Applications are assessed against stated criteria outlined in the call for proposals. This ensures 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.
The aims of the CSIF are to: