Three groups across Longford and Roscommon are set to benefit from a new scheme which redirects the proceeds of crime back into the community.
The Justice Minister has confirmed that money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau will be reinvested as a part of the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
€137,500 euro is being allocated to the local Community Safety Partnership in Longford for a variety of projects with Longford Women's Link to receive €20,686 for a project on domestic violence. €5,000 is also being provided for projects being supported by Roscommon's Joint Policing Committee and County Council.
Longford Councillor Gerry Warnock initially proposed redistributing funds seized by criminals to local communities several years ago. He feels it's very positive that some good can come from communities affected by highly organised criminality :
These monies were accumulated as a result of the proceeds of crime and it is great a decision had been finally made to redeploy these much-needed resources here into groups that are helping to counter the impact of crime in the local community.
It is very very welcome news indeed and I'm delighted for all the groups who were successful.
