Longford and Midlands projects to receive €192,000 cash injection from proceeds of crime

Longford and Midlands projects are to receive a very welcome €192,000 cash injection from the proceeds of crime.

€192,500 has been allocated to community projects in Longford and the wider Midlands region under the Community Safety Fund 2025, which redirects proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána back into local communities.

Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre, Granard has been awarded €50,000 for its “Choices for Life – Youth Drug Awareness & Resilience Programme”, which supports young people to make positive life choices and build resilience against drug misuse.

While the Midlands Simon Community has been awarded €142,500 for its “Reconnect: Midlands Reintegration and Community Safety Pilot”, which will operate across Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly, supporting community safety and reintegration for people moving on from homelessness and the criminal justice system.

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Fine Gael TD Longford Westmeath, Deputy Micheál Carrigy welcomed the funding. “It’s very positive to see proceeds of crime being redirected into community safety projects that make a real difference on the ground.

"Lus na Gréine continues to deliver invaluable supports for young people and families across Longford, while Midlands Simon plays a vital role in helping people rebuild their lives and reintegrate safely into our communities.

"These projects are exactly what the Community Safety Fund is designed to support — practical, community-led initiatives that promote safety, recovery and inclusion.”

Nationally, 42 projects will share a total of €4.4 million, tackling issues such as domestic and gender-based violence, drug intimidation, youth justice, addiction recovery, and community reintegration.

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Deputy Carrigy concluded, “Longford and the Midlands are leading the way in developing creative, compassionate approaches to community safety. This funding will have a tangible impact for local families and communities.”