Minister for Justice praises Limerick community for 'phenomenal' work during visit

MINISTER Helen McEntee has praised 'phenomenal' community work in Limerick during a visit to launch €3.75m safety fund.

Minister McEntee was in Moyross this Wednesday to announce multi-million euro funding for community-based organisations to deliver safety projects.

The Moyross Youth Academy (MYA) are 'exemplary' as they have embraced projects by developing a safety programme within their community, which addresses knife crime. 

Minister McEntee said there is ‘fantastic’ work being undertaken by the academy in Moyross as it is the “only place where we have probation service working with youth integration services here on the ground” which she says is “absolutely phenomenal”. 

€3.75 million in funding is available for local initiatives and the funding call is open from 30 May to 26 July 2024.

The fund:

• allows proceeds of crime to be directed into community projects to support community safety;
• encourages the development of projects aimed at improving community safety from the people who best understand local community safety needs;
• allows best practice on community safety and youth justice to be shared with other partnerships and communities nationally as new proposals are developed;
• reflects and highlights the success of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal  Assets Bureau in seizing the proceeds from criminal activity.

This could include activities intended to:

• tackle crime or reduce the fear of crime; improve community safety and feelings of safety;
• support the creation of safe and resilient communities;
• reduce reoffending;
• divert vulnerable individuals away from engagement in criminal behaviour.

Grants will be in the range of €20,000 to €150,000.

PICTURE: Adrian Butler