Apply for The Community Safety Fund 2025

The Community Safety Fund 2025 is now open for applications. The annual fund allows for the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, to be directed into local projects to support and enhance community safety.

This year, €4 million is available, which is double the original allocation of €2 million when the fund first opened for applications in 2022, and grants range from €20,000 to €150,000.

The call for the Community Safety Fund is open for applications until Friday 16 May.

The Community Safety Fund is managed by the newly established National Office for Community Safety within the Department of Justice.

The Fund:

• allows proceeds of crime to be directed into projects to support and enhance community safety
• ensures that the most appropriate proposals to improve community safety will access the funding they need
• allows best practice on community safety and youth justice to be shared with other partnerships and communities nationally as new proposals are developed
• benefits from the success of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in seizing the proceeds from criminal activity.

Projects that have previously benefited from the funding supported initiatives that:

• 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.

In 2024, over €3 million was allocated to projects nationwide. Themes from 2024 successful applicants included projects aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, drug-related intimidation, social exclusion, youth programmes, prison post-release support. Many of the projects focused on education, sport, recreation, and social interaction to proactively address safety concerns in communities.

Applications are invited from community safety initiatives as well as groups co-funded with local authorities, NGOs and community organisations working on issues relevant to community safety and youth justice.

Applications may be submitted by individual organisations, or by a consortium involving two or more organisations where the lead partner is a community organisation, nonprofit, social enterprise or similar with a remit relevant to community safety and/or youth justice. Applications with innovative approaches will be afforded particular consideration.

Completed application forms must be returned by 5pm on Friday, 16 May to CommunitySafetyFund@justice.ie.

For more visit: Community Safety Fund 2025: Funding Call