Ó An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitúil agus Oidhreachta
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Minister for Planning and Local Government Peter Burke has approved funding of €192,200 to 18 local authorities and one regional women’s caucus. This funding will support activities to increase the number of female and diverse candidates and councillors running in the Local Elections in 2024.
As part of a broader programme brought forward by Minister Burke focussing on gender balance and diversity at local government level, a substantially increased level of funding has been approved for local authorities this year.
Minister Burke said:
“There is a significant underrepresentation of women and people of diversity in local government, and therefore I have spent much of my time as Minister working to address this imbalance. My department and I are passionate about supporting our councils to be more reflective of the breadth and diversity of the communities they serve. Over the past few years, I have approved significant funding aimed at promoting the participation of women and people of diversity in local government across various funding streams.
“I have also made significant progress in recent months in terms of legislation, with Government approving a comprehensive package of maternity benefits for councillors. These measures recognise the unique and demanding role of the councillor and acknowledge that it can be difficult to step away from the role for a significant period of time. Proposed legislative changes mean that councillors can take advantage of the right to maternity leave for the first time. They will also have the option to nominate an individual as a temporary substitute for the duration of their absence. I am working to bring this Bill to the Oireachtas in the coming days to begin its legislative journey. I will also put in place an additional allowance for administrative/secretarial supports for councillors to assist them in running their office after giving birth.”
The funding stream being announced today is now in its fourth year, and has proven to be very popular. Local authorities submitted proposals which work specifically towards the 2024 elections, and for the first time this year were asked to focus on the worrying trend of online abuse directed at elected officials. This year the scheme also incorporates a previously separate scheme aimed at local level women’s caucuses, in order to streamline the process for local authorities. Research has shown that local level caucuses strengthen cooperation between women in political life across party lines and create a space for women to engage more on policy and issues which affect their work.
A variety of projects have been selected for funding, including community events, mentoring programmes, workshops for secondary school students, as well as capacity-building training both online and in-person.
To conclude, the Minister said:
"Local authorities across the country recognise the importance of diversity and gender balance at local level. As the local elections in 2024 loom closer, now is the time for us all to redouble our efforts in making the role of the councillor more accessible and sustainable for all.”