Internal Security Fund (ISF)

Internal Security Fund 2014-2020

The Internal Security Fund (“ISF”), a European Structural Fund, was set up for the period 2014-2020, with a total budget of €4.2 billion for the seven years. The Fund promoted the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy, law enforcement cooperation and the management of the Union's external borders. In respect of the 2014-2020 programming period, the ISF is composed of two financial instruments, ISF Borders and Visa, and ISF Police. Ireland was only involved in the ‘ISF Police’ aspect. For the 2014-2020 programming period, c.€1.21 billion was available for funding actions under the ‘ISF Police’ instrument.

Key objectives:
2014-2020 National Programme
The ISF Police component of the ISF contributes to ensuring a high level of security in the EU. Within this general objective, the Fund’s activities focused on achieving two specific objectives:

• Fight against crime: Combating cross-border, serious and organised crime including terrorism, and reinforcing coordination and cooperation between law enforcement authorities and other national authorities of EU States, including with EUROPOL and other relevant EU bodies, and with relevant non-EU and international organisations.
• Managing risk and crisis: Enhancing the capacity of EU States and the Union for managing effectively security-related risk and crisis, and preparing for protecting people and critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks and other security related incidents component of the ISF contributes to ensuring a high level of security in the EU.

To date, the ISF has proven a success. Overall as part of the allocation Ireland received (€10.5m). The EU designated the Responsible Authority (“RA”) of this allocation to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) which then in turn provided full designation to Garda Finance.

• ISF National Programme 2021-2027.pdf (size 2.3 MB)

The two main pieces of European legislation for the 2021-2027 programming period are Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the ‘Common Provisions Regulation’ (“CPR”), and Regulation (EU) 2021/1149 .

The ISF 2021-2027 Programming period will contribute to ensuring a high level of security in the Union, in particular by:

• Preventing and combating terrorism and radicalisation, serious and organised crime, and cybercrime;
• Assisting and protecting victims of crime; and
• Preparing for, protecting against and effectively managing security related incidents, risks and crises.

What type of activities are eligible under the Internal Security Fund?

The ISF may provide grants for activities that include the following:

• Development of national and EU-wide information systems.
• Improving methods of information retrieval and exchange of information.
• Joint operations between cross-border and national authorities.
• Training, Information and acquisition of equipment and support in the development of new technologies and processes.

Specific actions taken with the support of ISF funding may aim to address key security threats, in particular serious and organised crime, terrorism, radicalisation, cybercrime, corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings, and to assist and protect victims of crime.

Who is eligible for ISF Funding?

Funding is available to authorities, organisations and other stakeholders, including educational organisations, relevant to the implementation of the 2021-2027 National Programme.

Apply for funding now

The 2025 call for proposals, detailed here, is now closed.

An Garda Síochána is now inviting applications for funding under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) 2021 – 2027 programme. The deadline for applications is 10 July 2026. For more information, click here.

Thematic Calls & EU Calls for Proposals

Thematic Calls & EU Calls for Proposals are funding opportunities issued by the European Union institutions, agencies and bodies. These are direct financial contributions, known as grants, that are awarded by the EU. For more information see, EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

The 2021-2027 National Programme is subject to various controls and governance requirements, as outlined in various provisions of the CPR and Regulation (EU) 2021/1149. A summary of these requirements is outlined as follows:

Monitoring Committee

Managing Authorities are required to establish a programme Monitoring Committee for the ISF. The Monitoring Committee is required to examine various matters, such as progress in programme implementation, issues in performance and the achievement of milestones/targets. In addition, the Monitoring Committee provides final approval on project proposals. The Monitoring Committee is governed by its own Rules of Procedure, which have been developed in line with EU Regulation.

Evaluation Committee

In order to comply with audit trail and documentation requirements relating to the selection of projects, the Internal Security Fund Managing Authority has established an Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee applies selection criteria to proposed projects and ultimately presents its findings to the Monitoring Committee for final decision. The Evaluation Committee is governed by its own Rules of Procedure.

All correspondence in relation to the ISF should be directed to the ISF section mailbox: ISF@garda.ie.

Complaints

Complaints regarding the operation of the Internal Security Fund in Ireland can be made to isf@garda.ie. Please clearly state that a complaint is being made and include the following information;

• Your own name and contact details (The Managing Authority may be restricted in investigating anonymous complaints in so far as it cannot seek any necessary additional information from the complainant).
• Details of the incident you are complaining about.
• Details of the date(s), time(s), location(s) of the incident.

The unit and/or staff member(s) subject to the complaint may be provided with an anonymised copy of your complaint as part of the complaints investigation process. Subject to applicable data protection law, it is possible that information gathered by An Garda Síochána, in its role as Managing Authority, may be also be given to other divisions within An Garda Síochána and to third parties such as the Director of Public Prosecutions for use in other criminal or civil proceedings.

The next programming period commences on 1 January 2028. Details of the programme and funding opportunities will be made available in due course.