Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD, opens the 4th National Civic Forum, Millennium Hall, Cork
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 17 November 2025
- Last updated on: 17 November 2025
- The event showcased collaborative projects between the State and community sector on the theme of “Social Inclusion”
- The Civic Forum aims to strengthen deliberative and participative approaches to public-policy making, at national and local level
- Over 100 delegates from the community and voluntary and state sectors attended the day-long event at the Millennium Hall in Cork
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer TD, has today (Friday, 14 November 2025) opened the fourth annual National Civic Forum for dialogue between the state and the community and voluntary sector at the Millennium Hall in Cork City.
The Forum was attended by over 100 delegates from the community and voluntary, local government and state sectors. It showcased examples of how the state and the community sector are working together in designing and collaborating on projects related to social inclusion and bringing about positive changes for individuals and communities.
The Civic Forum also provided opportunities for attendees to engage in roundtable discussions on the presentations delivered, together with updates from relevant stakeholders.
Held for the first time outside of Dublin, after successful events in the Aviva Stadium in 2022 and 2023, and Dublin Castle in 2024, this fourth annual National Civic Forum took place at Cork City Council’s Millennium Hall in Cork.
The theme of this year’s Civic Forum recognises that social inclusion is one of the values contained in the ‘Values and Principles for Collaboration and Partnership Working with the Community and Voluntary Sector’ which were adopted by Government in 2023. The forum examines how the state and the community and voluntary sector can further develop and strengthen deliberative and participative approaches to public-policy making, at national and local level.
Addressing delegates as he officially opened the Forum, Minister Buttimer highlighted the importance of the event, stating:
“I am delighted to see the broad range of attendees here today from both the community and voluntary sector and from local and central government. Events like this are a wonderful opportunity to bring us together, share our experiences, and discuss how we can continue to work together in order to deliver positive outcomes for our communities.”
Minister Buttimer went on to say:
“The presentations at today’s Forum are from diverse and impactful programmes of social inclusion from across the country which have been developed and are being implemented through collaboration between State bodies and the Community and Voluntary Sector.
“The Civic Forum was developed as part of the Governments strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, to encourage engagement and collaboration between Government, local and national, and the community and voluntary sector in order to better serve the needs of communities.
“Along with the Values and Principles for Collaboration and Partnership Working with the Community and Voluntary Sector, which were also developed as part of this strategy, we have a framework to work together, and I look forward to hearing the shared experiences and ideas during the course of the day.”
Minister Buttimer concluded by saying:
“I am delighted to host this 4th Annual Civic Forum, and also to confirm that my Department, in collaboration the community and voluntary sector, is currently developing a successor strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, which will be published in early 2026. It will be our ambition to further enhance collaboration and partnership working under the new strategy.”
This Civic Forum forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the department to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.
Notes
National Civic Forum
This event, hosted by The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, fulfils objectives under Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: the five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.
The Department has engaged with representatives of the community and voluntary sector in the design of this event.
The event agenda includes contributions from government departments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities showcasing examples of putting the values and principles for collaboration and partnership working into practice. There are also roundtable sessions which will give an opportunity for all voices to be heard.
This event is part of a wider process to support deliberative and participative approaches to policy-making and programming. It is not intended to replace any existing fora or dialogue, but rather to add value and depth to existing dialogue.
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities
The five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland sets out a long-term vision for our communities in Ireland. It sets a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade. The Strategy was co-produced by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, central and local government colleagues, and the community and voluntary sectors.
Values and Principles
The Values and Principles is used by central and local government, as well as state bodies, as a basis for their interactions with the community and voluntary sector in pursuit of the best outcomes for all communities.