Offaly Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) was established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 for the purposes of developing, co-ordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development. Offaly County Council was one of ten ‘front runner’ LCDC’s which commenced operating in February 2014, with formal establishment of the LCDC in November 2014.
LCDC chair is Cllr. John Leahy and the Chief Officer is Ms Deardriu Lally
The functions of Offaly LCDC:
Functions of the Local Community Development Committee are set out under Section 128B of Local Government Reform Act 2014. They are as follows:
- Prepare and adopt the community elements of the 6 year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP).
- Implement or arrange for the implementation of the community elements of the LECP.
- Coordinate the management and oversee the implementation of the programmes that have been approved either by the local authority or by agreement between the LCDC and other public bodies.
- Ensure effectiveness, coordination, consistency and the avoidance of duplication between publicly funded local and community development programmes.
- Optimise resources for the benefit of local communities and improve the efficiency with which publicly funded local and community development resources are used.
Membership of Offaly LCDC:
The 19 member Offaly LCDC includes broad representation from public and private interests including business, local development, education, enterprise, agriculture, voluntary, local authority members and statutory interests.
Current membership of Offaly LCDC is as follows:
Main Achievements of LCDC in 2024:
The following key priorities were progressed and developed in 2024 by the LCDC:
- Offaly Local Community Development Committee continues to be a leading performer in delivering nationally funded programmes.
- The Framework Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2024-2029 and initial two-year LECP Implementation Plan 2024-2025 were adopted in 2024. Monitoring of implementation of actions and reporting on progress will be the responsibility of the LCDC and Economic Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).
- The new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028, with a budget of €1,117,567 for 2024, commenced and a strong and focused programme was delivered in year one.
- SICAP contributed to building more sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities by engaging with groups of individuals, local community groups, networks and social enterprises to address collective community needs.
- SICAP also empowered disadvantaged people to improve the quality of their lives by supporting individuals, children and families to progress their formal education and participate in lifelong learning, to progress into employment/self-employment and to improve their soft skills and wellbeing. SICAP continues to provide support to target groups across Offaly while adapting to address crisis related concerns and delivering supports to New Arrivals.
- Approval and implementation of the Local Enhancement Programme 2024 in the sum of €162,599.36.
- Completion of works in October 2024 of 26 projects approved under Community Recognition Fund 2023 amounting to €669,691.
- Approval and implementation of Window 1 of the Community Recognition Fund 2024 in the sum of €702,000.
- Funding Roadshows were organised by Offaly PPN and the Community Section in February 2024 and were held in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry.
- Offaly Sports Partnership secured almost €640,000 in funding to deliver a range of inclusive measures to increase and sustain participation in sport in Offaly.
- Healthy Offaly Actions grew significantly under the Offaly Healthy Ireland Fund.
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme
(SICAP) 2024-2028
Offaly LCDC is the contracting Authority, manages SICAP at a local level and directs funding to the program Implementer Offaly Integrated Local Development CLG. Offaly LCDC is the key decision maker in terms of Annual planning, monitoring and oversight. Offaly LCDC has responsibility for the Bi-annual Performance reviews and the Annual Planning process and managing and reporting of these finances
