Money seized from criminals by CAB to be invested in two Louth projects

The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has announced the funding of two Louth projects under the Community Safety Fund.

Over €3 million worth of funding to 33 projects through the Community Safety Fund has been allocated nationally.

The aim of the fund is to allow the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, to be directed into local community safety projects. Grants ranging from €27,000 to €183,000 have been awarded to organisations and community groups that have made proposals to improve community safety.

The two Louth projects to be funded include the Connect Family Resource Centre and the The Red Door Project.

The Connecting Communities project run by Connect Family Resource Centre focuses primarily on parents and families to include programmes, initiatives and activities to build resilience, confidence and feelings of safety in the community, promote positive mental wellbeing, build social capital by improving social connections. 

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The Prison Links Worker project run by The Red Door Project supports individuals with a substance use issue both entering and exiting prison

Minister McEntee said:

"At the heart of our approach to community safety is the principle that every community has the right to thrive and flourish. This funding will help the people who best understand the safety needs of their community to develop proposals to make a real positive difference. The successful projects have demonstrated their understanding of the safety needs in their community and put forward strong proposals which I believe will lead to improved safety in their areas.

"An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau have had continued success in disrupting the activities of criminals by seizing their ill-gotten gains. Putting this money back into the community is a real way to show that the efforts of law enforcement can directly contribute to making people feel safer.

"I have ensured that under Budget 2025, the Community Safety Fund will be increasing to €4 million."