Innovative safety projects in Waterford have received significant government funding. Over €450,000 has been allocated by Justice Minister Helen McEntee for three Waterford projects as part of the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
The fund was established in 2021 by Minister McEntee to reinvest the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau into local projects in order to promote the building of stronger, safer communities. The funding for 2023 was increased to €3 million from €2 million in 2022, with grants of between €20,000 and €150,000 being made available for worthy projects, with the three Waterford projects being awarded a maximum of €150,000 each.
The projects include the 'Consent Matters' project - as Chair of the Waterford Community Safety Partnership Sean Aylward, outlined to WLR News.
"SETU, The Department of Equality Diversity and Inclusion are on board where Doctors Roisin Shanahan and Alison Kennedy with ourselves and The Purple Flag Committee alongside the Gardaí will deliver the initiative.
"A programme has been developed, the first in the country that involves outreach to young people in transition year and all third-level entrants and all the colleges that we have in the city, not just in the University. The programme will also be rolled out across sporting organisations focused on consent."
There will also be the introduction of "Safety Wardens" which will focus on tackling issues collaboratively. Sean continued, saying the wardens will play a key role in addressing safety issues in the city.
"The uniform people in the city will be helping out over the next 18 months to 2 years. At community events, they will have marked high-vis jackets and will be there to be the eyes and ears of the community by giving guidance and support at events. They will have protocols where help has to be called from the emergency services. They are going to be a useful adjunct to life in the festival city of the Southeast."
Southeast Social Farming was also awarded funding under the initiative. The programme is a joint initiative between Waterford Leader Partnership and Social Framing Ireland that offers people a range of services including mental health, learning /intellectual disability, and other aspects of care supports or social marginalisation the opportunity to engage and contribute to the farming and the social activities of rural Ireland.
For your latest Waterford News and Sport, click here.
