Longford groups thrilled with opportunity to put money seized from criminals by CAB to good use

Four Longford projects are set to benefit from grants ranging from over €32,000 up to €122,000 awarded to organisations and community groups that have made proposals to improve community safety.

Longford Women's Link, two projects from Longford Local Community Safety Partnership and Foróige Longford are the recipients.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed the funding allocations of just over €3 million nationally last week were being distributed to 33 projects

Money seized from criminals by CAB to be invested in four Longford projects 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.

The four organisations which will benefit are Longford Women’s Link (LWL), a local interagency response to the risk of domestic violence homicide in rural Ireland who are getting over €32,000.

LWL focuses on developing communication strategies and interagency Standard Operating Procedures to mitigate domestic violence risks in rural Ireland.

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CEO Tara Farrell said they are very happy to receive €32,420 for their project - Longford Interagency Response To The Risk Of Domestic Violence Homicide In Rural Ireland from the Department of Justice Community Safety Fund

"We very much welcome this funding and the opportunity to continue our collaborative work with key agencies from across Longford and Westmeath," she said. "We would like to thank the Department of Justice and also Longford Community Safety Partnership for their support of this critical initiative which strengthens our collective efforts to ensure safety of women and children living with domestic violence."

The second organisation to benefit is Longford Local Community Safety Partnership.

Project Safer Horizons: Changing Perceptions and Empowering Communities in Longford - targets personal and community safety concerns in Longford through five projects, focusing on older adults, minority groups, and residents of disadvantaged areas with €122,000 in funding received.

Longford Local Community Safety Partnership also received €88,000 in funding for their Sport for Change: Building Safer Communities in Longford project.

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That initiative emphasises sports, outdoor activities, and skill development to tackle anti-social behaviour and support disadvantaged communities.

Community Safety Coordinator Janine Bartley said they are “thrilled to get the money” and it will make a very positive difference.

The fourth organisation to receive funding is Foróige Longford Safe Futures and their 'Safe Futures' project, which aims to enhance community safety through the development of a youth focused programme that empowers young people.