Over €140,000 from funds seized from criminals allocated to Carlow community safety project

€142,500 has been allocated to a Carlow community project from funds seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána.

The project is the Bystander Intervention Programme which was launched by SETU earlier this year. 

The programme informs participants how to recognise unacceptable behaviour, what the barriers to intervention are, how to overcome them, and how to safely and effectively intervene.

Kilkenny- Carlow TD, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has welcomed the funding allocation.

READ NEXT: Planning sought for over 50 new homes to be built just outside of Carlow town

"This is a hugely positive initiative that takes money once linked to criminal activity and reinvests it directly into our communities for the benefit of local people. Through this initiative, funds seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána are supporting projects across Carlow, delivering practical results where they are needed most. This is real restorative justice in action," she said. 

€4.4 million has been allocated through the Community Safety Fund to 42 projects nationally.

This represents a 33% increase on the €3 million awarded in 2024, with the number of funded projects now doubled.

Successful projects this year cover a wide range of areas, including domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), countering drug-related intimidation, addiction recovery and substance misuse as well as violence reduction initiatives.

The Bystander Programme will complement and supplement existing student Active Consent and Staff Training on Tackling Sexual Harassment & Violence which is already underway at the University.