From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for Charities and Community Development, Joe O Brien, today announced 4 pilot projects to support engagement with marginalised communities in planning and decision making processes.
4 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) have been selected to develop and test engagement strategies to support inclusive participation.
The project aims to develop toolkits that can be adapted and used by local authorities and other state agencies to enable better engagement with hard to reach groups.
Following an expressions of interest process administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, funding of up to €40,000 has been approved for each of 4 LCDCs.
Clare, Fingal, Galway City and Wicklow will undertake pilot programmes to support participation and engagement by marginalised and disadvantaged communities in the Local Economic and Community Planning (LECP) process which is currently underway in each local authority area.
Announcing the successful applicants, Minister Joe O Brien, said:
“I am really pleased to announce the 4 pilots to lead the way in the engagement of marginalised communities. I have made up to €40,000 in Dormant Accounts funding available to each of the 4 LCDCs to act as exemplars in reaching out to those furthest from participation and the decision making processes. I hope that the learnings gathered will inform enhanced engagement with marginalised groups by local decision making bodies, and ensure better outcomes for all members of our communities.”
In addition to the pilot programme, information and resources are being provided to all local authorities to support their engagement with marginalised communities.
National events will showcase good practice in relation to engagement strategies, with inputs from experts and national advocacy and representative organisations.
This work supports Ireland’s commitment to sustainable development, and fulfils a strategic objective under Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the 5-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.
Attending an event to launch the project this morning, Minister O’Brien said:
“In addition to the pilots, I am delighted to be here to attend the first of 2 national events for LCDCs and advocacy groups to share good practice in consultation and engagement of marginalised groups, in planning and decision making processes. The voice of all members of our communities must be present in the design, implementation and review of decisions that impact on all of our lives – inclusive consultation and meaningful engagement are key to this. Ultimately, the best decisions are those which are made together, with the opportunity for everyone to share their perspective. Today’s event will consider not just the high-level policy context, but also existing best practise and experience, and available resources on inclusion of marginalised groups in decision making processes.”
A second event later this year will review the pilots’ experience and focus on sharing learnings to encourage discussion on the opportunities for engagement, and how they are best embedded in consultation processes.
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: the 5-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, Central and Local Government colleagues, and the community and voluntary sectors.
The Dormant Accounts Acts 2001-2012, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (that is, banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
The main purpose of the legislation is to reunite account or policy holders with their funds in credit institutions or insurance undertakings and in this regard, these bodies are required to take steps to identify and contact the owners of dormant accounts and unclaimed life assurance policies.
However, in order to utilise the unused funds the legislation also introduced a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed from dormant accounts and unclaimed policies for the purposes of measures to assist:
1. the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
2. the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
3. persons with a disability.
Pobal operates under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development. Pobal is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Members of the Board are appointed by Government, on the nomination of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, in line with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. The company operates on the basis of a framework agreement with the Department of Rural and Community Development and programme-specific service level agreements with individual departments.
Pobal works in the areas of social inclusion, early childhood care and education, local and community development, peace and reconciliation, equality, labour market supports, and education and training.
Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) were set up as part of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 in each Local Authority area. The aim of LCDCs is to enhance the strategic planning and coordination of local and community development activity. An LCDC is made up of:
LCDCs draw on the expertise and experience of public and private people and organisations in each local authority area.
The purpose of the Local Economic and Community Plans (LECP), as provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is to set out for a 6-year period. LECPs set out the objectives and actions needed to promote and support integrated economic and community development of the local authority area, in partnership with other stakeholders.
As the framework for the economic and community development of the local authority area, the LECP is also the primary mechanism at local level to bring forward relevant actions arising from national and regional strategies and policies that have a local remit.