In September 2008, the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) began the 3-year process of implementing the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) in Tallaght West, Co. Dublin. Through supporting local resident interaction and promoting collaborative responses to addressing local safety issues, the CSI seeks to improve people’s perceptions of safety, improve neighbour relations and promote a safe and healthy environment for children and families. The overall aims of the initiative (CDI, 2012) are:
• to improve safety and to promote pro-social behaviour across Tallaght West;
• to improve community awareness and participation in local activities and services;
• to encourage wide community engagement in maintaining a safe environment.

This report is the final output of the 3-year evaluation (2008-2011) of the CSI by the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway. It builds on the research from three phases of data collection in order to present a comprehensive assessment of the development and implementation of the CSI. Specifically, the report evaluates the achievement of the overall aims of the CSI in this period in order to answer the evaluation’s overall research questions, which are:
1. How is the CSI being implemented and what is the value of the logic underpinning the initiative?
2. Were there any changes in (1) perceptions of safety and (2) safety and/or crime prevention within the four target areas of Tallaght West?
3. If yes, what role (if any) did CSI activities play in influencing change (e.g. increasing community engagement and enhancing a ‘sense of belonging’ among community members) in the four areas?
4. What are the outcomes for children, parents and the wider community?