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30 Oct 2025
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30 Oct 2025
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Connect Family Resource Centre Louth has been allocated €109,388
Two community projects in Louth are among 42 across the country set to receive funding from an allocation of over €4 million from proceeds of crime.
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has announced the allocation of €4.4 million through the Community Safety Fund to 42 community safety projects nationwide. This is almost double the number of projects funded by the first Community Safety Fund in 2022.
In Louth, Connect Family Resource Centre has been allocated €109,388 for its project, Ár Áit (Our Place). Drogheda Women & Children’s Refuge Centre has also been allocated €143,000 for its project, Wings of Change (Working Title with the young people).
The Community Safety Fund redirects proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Siochana back into communities. This year’s allocation is a 33% increase on the €3 million awarded in 2024.
Read also: Louth County Council gives go ahead for 33 new homes
Announcing the funding, Minister O’Callaghan said: “The Community Safety Fund is an important and effective element in achieving stronger, safer communities. It ensures that the proceeds of crime seized by CAB and An Garda Síochána are re-invested back into communities to enhance safety and security in those communities.
“It demonstrates that the efforts of our Gardaí and law enforcement bodies can not only disrupt and seize the proceeds of crime but can directly contribute to building stronger and safer communities.”
Successful projects across the country this year focus on a broad range of thematic areas that include domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV); countering drug related intimidation; addiction recovery and substance misuse; and violence reduction.
Youth support, community reintegration of offenders; trauma informed and restorative approaches as well as initiatives supporting minority or marginalised groups have also been funded.
A National Office for Community Safety has been established which has responsibility for administering the Community Safety Fund. This Office is also providing support, training and guidance to Local Community Safety Partnerships, which are being rolled out nationwide at present.
Gráinne Berrill, Director of the National Office for Community Safety said: “The volume and breadth of applications received to the Community Safety Fund in 2025 demonstrates its value in redirecting the proceeds of crime into projects that support and enhance community safety. We were delighted to be able to fund more projects this year than any previous year and welcome the Minister securing an increase in the size of the Fund for 2026.
“Local Community Safety Partnerships will identify issues relating to community safety in their area and develop responses to these through tailored Local Community Safety Plans. Safety Partnerships will therefore have an important future role to play in aligning the Community Safety Fund to community needs, further enhancing the impact of the Fund for local communities.”
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