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 Lourda Giles.
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:
| Offaly LCDC Members – Statutory Interests 9 | ||
| Sector | Member Name | Organisation |
| Local Authority Elected Members | Cllr John Leahy(Chair) Cllr Declan Harvey Cllr Noel Cribbin | Offaly County Council |
| Local Authority Officials | Ms. Anna Marie Delaney Ms. Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise | Offaly County Council |
| State Agencies | Ms. Ann-Marie Keane Mr. Con Feighery Ms. Celine Kirwan Ms. Ann Sheerin | Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board Teagasc Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Health Services Executive |
| Offaly LCDC Members – Non Statutory Interests 10 | ||
| Community & Voluntary | Ms. Sylvia Sweeney (Vice-Chair) Ms. Fiona Fitzpatrick | Offaly Public Participation Network Community Representatives (2) |
| Social Inclusion | Ms. Deirdre Arnold Ms. Olive O’Sullivan | Offaly Public Participation Network Social Inclusion Representatives (2) |
| Environment | Ms. Rebekah Keaveny | Offaly Public Participation Network Environmental Representative (1) |
| Local and Community Development | Mr. Brendan O’Loughlin | Offaly Integrated Local Development Company |
| Other civic society or local and community Interests | Mr. Mark Cronin Mr. Richard Scally Mr. Fechin Daly Mr. Philip O’Brien | Construction Industry Federation Offaly Irish Farmers Association Business Interest Offaly Tourism Marketing (CLG) |
| Total Offaly LCDC Membership 19 |
Main Achievements of LCDC in 2023:
The following key priorities were progressed and developed in 2023 by the LCDC:
- Implementation of the Offaly Local Development Strategy and LEADER Rural Development Programme 2014-2022, including the EURI Transitional Programme funding 2021-2022 and approval of LEADER Programme funding;
- Implementation, monitoring and review of Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023;
- Implementation of the SICAP Ukrainian Response Budget 2023;
- Submission to DRCD of Local Development Strategy 2023-2027 (LDS) in respect of LCDC’s interest in delivering the LEADER Programme 2023-2027;
- Completion of the procurement and evaluation process for new SICAP Programme 2024-2028;
- Preparation of Local Economic Community Plan 2024-2029;
- Implementation of the Community Support Fund 2023, Community Recognition Fund 2023/24 and the launch of the Local Enhancement Programme 2024 under the Offaly Community Enhancement Programme;
- Operation of the Ukrainian Community Response Forum;
- Implementation of the 2023 Dormant Account Fund Allocation ‘National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy’ Action 6.3;
- Provision of support to the community sector and affording a voice through the Offaly PPN Network;
- Implementation of the Offaly Healthy Ireland fund;
- Progression and improvement of the health and physical activity status of the people of Offaly by Offaly Sports Partnership.
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028
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 Union through 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 ag an Aontas Eorpach trí Chiste Sóisialta na hEorpa Plus faoin gClár Fostaíochta, Cuimsiú, Scileanna agus Oiliúna (EIST) 2021-2027.
The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.
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