Waterford allocated €132,183 for Traveller Community Safety Educational Project
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan TD this week announced €132,183 from the €4.4 million allocation of the Community Safety Fund to Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership’s (WLCSP) Traveller Community Safety Educational Project. The Community Safety Fund redirects the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána back into communities.
At the launch of the funding allocation Minister O’Callaghan said, “The Community Safety Fund is an important and effective element in achieving stronger, safer communities. It ensures that the proceeds of crime seized by CAB and An Garda Síochána are re-invested back into communities to enhance safety and security in those communities.”
The Traveller Community Safety Educational Program is designed to have a dedicated Traveller Community Safety liaison who will also improve road safety awareness and responsible animal safety and care within the Waterford’s Traveller community.
According to Seamus De Faoite, Director of Services for Housing, Community and Emergency Services in Waterford City and County Council, “the need for this initiative came to light through active and constructive relationships between Travellers and Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership, whilst engaging positively on several Community Safety issues.”
Through collaboration with WLCSP partners, Waterford City and County Council, local Gardaí, veterinary professionals, education and community partners, the initiative aims to educate the Waterford Traveller community on the safety issues that cause accidents, safety equipment available, animal welfare, compliance requirements and relevant road safety regulations.
Mr. De Faoite outlined how it is hoped that this project will and strengthen relationships between the Traveller community across the county and all the WLCSP partner organisations and communities, saying, “The educational program will be rolled out across six locations in Waterford City and County, commencing in 2026, in the form of workshops and demonstrations tailored to the needs of the local Traveller community.”
Previous successful Community Safety Fund projects undertaken by WLCSP have included a broad range of thematic areas that include domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), stemming Anti-Social Behaviour in our communities, countering drug related issues, youth support initiatives and improving the safety of Waterford communities by online Safety support and the Community Safety Warden pilots. WLCSP, a pilot initiative for the past three years will have its inaugural meeting under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 this week.
