16/04/2008

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

09/04/08

The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D., along with his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Mr. John Gormley T.D., today (9 April 08) launched the Community Graffiti Reduction Programme, a new national programme to support local communities to combat graffiti.

Under this programme, a broad approach is being taken to tackle graffiti and funding will be available for a wide range of initiatives to assist local communities to remove graffiti and to carry out activities which can assist in the long-term reduction in incidence of graffiti in their areas. Speaking at the launch, Minister Lenihan said: “This scheme was structured in such a way that it will facilitate communities taking the broadest approach to tackling graffiti, in their area in the way they feel will work best. Pobal is best placed to administer the scheme as is has demonstrated a high degree of commitment to supporting communities in their work to overcome disadvantage and to ensuring that communities get best value from the funding available to them.”

Minister Gormley welcomed the new cross-departmental initiative and said that he is fully aware of the major blight on communities, which graffiti vandals cause. Minister Gormley said: “I encourage local groups to apply for funding under this new graffiti reduction programme which seeks to deal with graffiti both in the short-term, through cleansing and support for businesses, and in the long-term, by changing peoples’ behaviour through education and raising awareness.”

A budget of €3.75 million is available for the programme during 2008. The first set of funds to be allocated will be ring-fenced to RAPID (Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) communities, which are disadvantaged areas prioritised by Government for a range of funding opportunities. Application forms will be sent to RAPID areas later this month.

Minister Lenihan added: “Graffiti is, at best, an irritant and at worst outright vandalism. It is regrettably found across a broad range of areas.” Minister Gormley, agreeing that the proliferation of graffiti in certain areas was deplorable, said: “The appearance of a community is a key feature in encouraging social and economic activity and in identifying it as a desirable place to live, work and do business in. First impressions do count and an ongoing cooperative effort is required between the townspeople, the business community and local groups, such as the RAPID teams and the local authorities, to ensure that the town is well presented.”

The Programme, which is supported by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will be managed, co-ordinated and delivered through Pobal.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has worked with Pobal for a number of years on the delivery of a range of successful programmes to benefit communities, including the Community CCTV programme, the Enhancing Disabilities Services Project and the Equality for Women Measures.

All areas of the country are eligible to apply for subsequent sets of funds, with applications being accepted from May 2008. Application forms will be issued in March.