Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)
Rural Development Programme (LEADER)
Adopted LECP Plan

CONTEXT

The Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in the 31 local authority areas.
This is one of the main alignment reforms of local government.
LCDC’s replace County Development Boards, and while retaining the collaborative nature of CDBs, have an enhanced role and different structure.

ROLE

LCDCs key function is to achieve a more strategic, joined up approach to local and community development.
LCDCs will have oversight and responsibility for local development and community related funding in their county.
The LCDC is responsible for the rollout and monitoring of delivery of social inclusion programme Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme 2018—2022 (SICAP).
The LCDC will also be responsible Rural Development Programme and is currently preparation a Draft Local Development Strategy for the county.
Each LCDC will develop a six year Economic and Community Plan (LECP). This plan will agree the strategic framework for economic and community development for the county. It will inform community and local development resource allocation, and inform other planning processes.
The community element of the plan will be prepared by the LCDC, with the economic element prepared by the SPC for Economic Development and Enterprise Support.
There is a requirement that both elements are prepared concurrently and form the basis for one overall LECP. This plan will be presented for approval by Council in early 2015.

STRUCTURE

LCDCs are based on membership from statutory and non-statutory bodies (who hold the majority of seats). Administrative and secretariat support is provided by the local authority.

County Laois LCDC is based on a seventeen member committee. The first meeting was held on Wednesday, 17 September 2014.

MEMBERSHIP OF LAOIS LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Statutory Interests

Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Laois County Council
Cllr John King, Laois County Council
Cllr Conor Bergin, Laois County Council
Mr John Mulholland, Chief Executive, Laois County Council
Ms Honor Deevy, A/CEO, Laois Local Enterprise Office
VACANT, Dept of Social Protection
Ms Ann Sheerin, Health Services Executive
Mr Joe Thompson, Laois/Offaly Education & Training Board (Chairperson)

Non Statutory Interests

Ms Catherine Cowap, A/CEO Laois Partnership Company
Mr Henry Burns, Farming Sector
Mr Clive Davis, Youth Sector
Mr Martin Crowley, Business Sector (Vice Chairperson)
Mr Ray Harte, Laois Public Participation Network (Environment Pillar)
Mr Naeem Iqbal, Laois Public Participation Network (Social Inclusion Pillar)
Ms Joan Bolger, Laois Public Participation Network (Social Inclusion Pillar)
Mr Nina Horan, Laois Public Participation Network (Community/Voluntary Pillar)
Mr John Oxley, Laois Public Participation Network (Community/Voluntary Pillar)

Chief Officer, Laois LCDC – Ms. Carmel McNicholl, Senior Executive Officer, Laois County Council

Tel No: 057 86 64000

Laois LCDC Minutes of Meetings

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023 is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Irish
Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European
Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027.”

“Tá an Clár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail (SICAP) cómhaoinithe ag Rialtas na
hÉireann, tríd an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Ciste Sóisialta na hEorpa Plus faoin
gClár Fostaíochta, Cuimsiú, Scileanna agus Oiliúna (EIST) 2021 -2027.”

In July 2021, Mr. Joe O’Brien T.D., Minister of State for Community Development and Charities announced a 12 months extension to SICAP 2018-22, that will now end in December 2023. It is envisaged that a new programme will be rolled out in January 2024.The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023 is a national programme funded by the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government and co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative.

This programme commenced on 1st January 2018 and will run until 31st December 2023. It is the successor programme to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017.

SICAP is a community development programme which aims to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term employment through local engagement and partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

This is done using community development approaches, targeted supports and interagency collaboration, where the values of equality and inclusion are promoted and human rights are respected.

The SICAP programmes provide supports to the following people:

The Unemployed
The Roma Community
One Parent Families
People with a disability
Those living in communities which are less well off than others
Those on a low income
Migrant; refugees or asylum seekers and
Young people looking for a job or training

Programmes provided under SICAP include:

SICAP VISION:

To improve the life chances and opportunities of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or in unemployment through community development approaches, targeted supports.

In Laois, the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) monitors the roll out of SICAP on behalf of DECLG and POBAL, which monitors funding of the programme.

Programme Implementer in Laois is Laois Partnership Company who can be contacted as follows:

Laois Partnership Company, Head Office, County Hall (Áras an Chontae), Portlaoise, Co Laois

Tel: 057 8661900 Fax: 057 8678043

Email: info@laoispartnership.ie

Rural Development Programme (LEADER)

The LEADER programme was launched in 1991 and has provided rural communities, across the EU, with the resources to enable local partners to actively engage and direct the local development of their area.

The current LEADER Programme 2014 – 2020 will provide €250 million (7% of the RDP) in funding to rural communities over the next 5 – 6 years throughout Ireland. During this period, almost €8m of LEADER funding will be invested in innovative community and private enterprise projects throughout Laois.

Laois Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has responsibility for the delivery of LEADER 2014-2020 in the county. The key Implementation Partner (IP) is Laois Partnership Company (LPC).

Decisions on LEADER funding are made at a local level by a Local Action Group (LAG) which is made up of people from the local community as well as from the local public and private sector

It is responsible for selecting and approving projects in accordance with the Local Development Strategies (LDS) developed for the area.

The LDS is a plan that is developed by rural communities to support sustainable development of their sub-regional area.

LEADER 2014-2020

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is the programme manager for LEADER. Pobal supports the Department in elements of the programme including managing the LDS selection process, financial verification checks and the roll out of the ICT system.

The LEADER programme is included under priority 6 of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP): “promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.”

To facilitate a more effective targeting of resources, the requirements of the RDP were identified through consultation and research. The RDP outlines a series of themes that were identified as overarching needs in rural Ireland.

LEADER has three RDP and nine sub-themes:

Theme 1: Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation.

Sub-themes: Rural Tourism, Enterprise Development, Rural Town and Broadband.

Theme 2: Social Inclusion

Sub-themes: Basic services targeted at hard to reach communities and Rural Youth.

Theme 3: Rural Environment

Sub-themes: Protection and sustainable use of water resources, Protection and improvement of local bio-diversity and Development of renewable energy.

How To Apply for LEADER Funding

For further information on LEADER funding in Laois, including how to apply, please contact the Implementing Partner (IP) ie Laois Partnership Company (LPC) at:

Laois Partnership Company, Head Office, County Hall (Áras an Chontae), Portlaoise, Co.Laois

Tel: 057 8661900 Fax: 057 8678043

Email: info@laoispartnership.ie

Local Economic & Community Plan

The Laois Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) is a statutory Plan which was prepared to promote the economic and community development of County Laois from 2016-2021.

The LECP was prepared by Laois County Council and the Laois Local Community Development Committee (Laois LCDC) in consultation with other agencies, organisations and groups.

The plan was adopted by the Laois Local Community Development Committee (Laois LCDC) and Laois County Council in March 2016 and was formally launched at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore in September 2016.

The LECP provides a guide to the development of Laois up to 2021 and one of its main objectives is to ensure the effective co-ordination of publicly funded programmes such as SICAP – Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and LEADER Rural Development Programmes.

Laois LCDC is responsible for implementing the community elements of the plan and the Strategic Policy Committee, or SPC, for Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning is responsible for implementing the economic element of the plan.

Both elements were developed in tandem and combined in the final LECP.

The plan comprises of 2 principal parts:

Part 1 – Laois Socio-Economic Statement

This statement includes some background information about the preparation of the LECP. It comprises a profile of County Laois including some key facts, trends, strengths and opportunities relevant to economic and community development. It also sets out 10 High-Level Goals and a context for each Goal.

Part 2 – Detailed Objectives and Actions

This section comprises specific, measurable and time-bound objectives and actions to promote economic and community development. The organisation or group responsible for delivering each action is specified, the committee responsible for overseeing the delivery of each action is also specified. Many actions are collaborative in nature involving a number of partners in these instances the lead agency is identified.

Adopted LECP Plan

Healthy Laois Plan 2018-2020

The Healthy Laois Plan seeks to build upon the Healthy Ireland strategic vision: which sees “A healthy Ireland where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential.” This plan supports the implementation at local level of the objectives of the Healthy Ireland Framework Strategy

The goal of the Healthy Laois Plan is to improve the health and wellbeing of all our citizens in County Laois.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Chairperson of Laois LCDC congratulated all involved in the making of this Plan, in particular to the Healthy Laois Team members, the partners and agencies involved and the HSE.

The Healthy Laois Plan was compiled following consultation with the public and targeted consultation with representatives of key agencies and organisations in Laois, who had much to say about what they would like to see developed and improved, but also how they are prepared to cooperate and get involved in making Laois a healthy county over the course of the next three years.

Cathaoirleach John King expressed his delight in supporting the Healthy Laois Plan. “The Healthy Laois Plan is the first of its kind in Laois and aims to work together to build an environment that supports individuals, families and indeed communities to lead healthier lifestyles”.

The Chief Executive of Laois County Council Mr John Mulholland explained that Health in the community incorporates factors such as Water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Education and Community Facilities. With those in mind, Laois County Council though the various local authority programmes as well as through the Local Economic and Community Plan(LECP) and County Development Plan is committed to working with our partners to shape the broad and sustainable development of the county

Full details can be seen at the following link:

Healthy-Laois-Plan-2018-2020