Departmental Funding

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

Questions (735)

Ciarán Ahern

Question:

735. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason an addiction support service (details supplied) has been refused funding under the Community Safety Fund despite having previously been awarded two years of funding to support families experiencing Drive Related Intimidation (DRI); if he will direct his Department to reconsider this refusal given that without this funding there is no alternative way for the service to support these families, deliver DRI training for frontline staff or participate in the Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62760/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The Community Safety Fund is an important and effective element in achieving stronger, safer communities. It ensures that the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána are re-invested back into communities to enhance safety and security in those communities. 127 projects across Ireland have been successful in securing funding through the Community Safety Fund to date.

The 2025 funding call invited applications from community safety initiatives and community organisations around the country for projects that responded to community safety issues. Since it was launched in 2022 the Fund has been targeted at once-off initiatives or short to medium term projects limited to two years.

Documentation made available to potential applicants to the Community Safety Fund in 2025 (Application criteria and Guidance note for applicants) reiterate this. These documents also stated that repeat funding of Community Safety Funded projects would not be considered.

The Community Safety Fund 2025 was highly competitive with 165 applications applying for €16 million in funding. As the programme referred to by the Deputy had been funded previously, it was not eligible for funding on this occasion.

On 30 October 2025, I announced the allocation of €4.4 million to 42 community safety projects nationwide under the Fund.