Sligo County Council has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan TD, of funding of €118,000 under the 2026 Community Safety Fund for the yOur Public Spaces project by Sligo County Council's Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).
€118,000 Awarded for yOur Public Spaces Project
The funding forms part of a record national allocation of €4.84 million to 56 community safety projects across Ireland through the Community Safety Fund, which reinvests the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána into projects that strengthen community safety, inclusion and community wellbeing.
Welcoming the announcement, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Dara Mulvey, said:
"I am delighted to welcome this funding for the yOur Public Spaces project, which will support communities to play an active role in shaping and caring for some of our most important public spaces. By encouraging positive use of these spaces and creating opportunities for people to come together, this initiative will help strengthen community connections, foster a greater sense of belonging and enhance feelings of safety for residents and visitors alike."
The yOur Public Spaces project is a two-year pilot initiative that will focus on making three key public spaces across County Sligo safer, more welcoming and more actively used by local communities. The project seeks to create safety through increased positive community presence, participation, stewardship and a stronger sense of ownership of public spaces.
The initiative will focus on:
- Queen Maeve Square, Sligo Town
- A park on the periphery of Sligo Town
- A park or urban space in a rural town or village in County Sligo
A dedicated Public Spaces Co-Ordinator will be appointed to lead the project and implement a place-management approach centred on community activation, engagement and safety. Working directly with local residents, community groups, businesses and other stakeholders, the Co-Ordinator will identify barriers to participation and support communities in reclaiming and positively using public spaces.
Chair of the Sligo Local Community Safety Partnership, Cllr. Marie Casserly, said:
"The Local Community Safety Partnership is committed to creating safer, more inclusive communities across County Sligo, and this project represents an exciting opportunity to work closely with local communities to achieve that goal. Through yOur Public Spaces, we will support people to play an active role in shaping and caring for shared public spaces, helping to foster a stronger sense of safety, belonging and pride in place. I would also like to thank everyone involved in securing this important investment for communities across County Sligo."
Announcing the national funding allocations, Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, said:
"The Community Safety Fund redirects the proceeds of crime into positive programmes that strengthen local communities, support vulnerable groups, engage young people and help prevent crime."
The Minister noted that the record investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to creating safer, stronger and more inclusive communities, while supporting community-led initiatives that deliver tangible local benefits.