Share

The "Our Voice, Our Rights" Blog

Posts in the "community%20development" category

A New Policy Framework for Local and Community Development

Posted on March 13, 2015

Generic Image - Playground
[smPullExtract inputText=%3Cp%3EThe%20process%20of%20preparing%20the%20promised%20policy%20paper%20on%20local%20and%20community%20development%20has%20finally%20got%20underway%20with%20the%20publication%20of%20a%20%3Ca%20style%3D%22line-height%3A%201.5em%3B%22%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Community/AlignmentLocalGovandLocalDev/FileDownLoad%2C40175%2Cen.pdf%22%3Edraft%20paper%2C%20%3Ci%3E%E2%80%98Our%20Communities%3A%20A%20Framework%20Policy%20for%20Local%20and%20Community%20Development%20in%20Ireland%E2%80%99%3C/i%3E%3C/a%3Eby%20the%20Department%20of%20the%20Environment%2C%20Community%20and%20Local%20Government.%20Submissions%20are%20invited%20by%2010%20April%202015.%20There%20is%20no%20indication%20as%20yet%20that%20the%20department%20will%20engage%20in%20a%20more%20intensive%20consultation%20with%20either%20the%20local%20development%20sector%20or%20the%20community%20sector.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAlthough%20not%20specifically%20stated%2C%20the%20policy%20paper%20is%20likely%20to%20replace%20the%20%3Ci%3E%E2%80%98%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.environ.ie/en/Community/CommunityVoluntarySupports/%22%3EWhite%20Paper%20on%20a%20framework%20for%20supporting%20voluntary%20activity%20and%20for%20developing%20the%20relationship%20between%20the%20state%20and%20the%20community%20and%20voluntary%20sector%E2%80%99%3C/a%3E%3C/i%3E%20which%20was%20finalised%20in%202001%20after%20a%20full%20process%20of%20consultation%20with%20the%20community%20and%20voluntary%20sector.%C2%A0%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20paper%20is%20a%20draft%20document%2C%20subject%20to%20changes%20following%20submissions%2C%20it%20is%20clearly%20focused%20on%20consolidating%20%3Ci%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad%2C31309%2Cen.pdf%22%3E%E2%80%98Putting%20People%20First%3A%20an%20action%20programme%20for%20effective%20local%20government%E2%80%99%3C/a%3E%3C/i%3E%20published%20in%202012%20and%20subsequently%20implemented%20with%20the%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.irishstatutebook.ie/2014/en/act/pub/0001/index.html%22%3ELocal%20Government%20%28Reform%29%20Act%202014%3C/a%3E%20-%20which%20resulted%20in%20new%20structures%20and%20processes%20at%20local%20level%20%C2%A0including%3A%3C/p%3E%3Cul%20style%3D%22list-style-type%3A%20circle%3B%22%3E%3Cli%3EThe%20Local%20Community%20Development%20Committee%20%28LCDC%29%2C%20with%20management%20responsibility%20for%20the%20Social%20Inclusion%20and%20Community%20Activation%20Programme%20%28SICAP%29%20and%20the%20development%20of%20a%206%20year%20Local%20Economic%20and%20Community%20Plan%20%28LECP%29.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EThe%20Public%20Participation%20Network%20%28PPN%29%20through%20which%20the%20local%20authority%20will%20interface%20with%20community%20organisations.%3C/li%3E%3C/ul%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20paper%20sets%20out%20the%20core%20objectives%20and%20measures%20of%20the%20framework%3A%3C/p%3E%3Cul%3E%3Cli%3EEngaging%20with%20communities%20via%20the%20PPN%20and%20other%20mechanisms%20to%20involve%20communities%20in%20planning%20and%20decision-making.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EPursuing%20a%20%E2%80%98whole%20of%20government%E2%80%99%20approach%20at%20local/national%20level%20by%20developing%20resources%20and%20skills%20and%20by%20establishing%20and%20supporting%20LCDCs.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EPlanning%20for%20local%20and%20community%20development%20through%20the%20development%20of%20Local%20Economic%20and%20Community%20Plans.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EEstablishing%20a%20National%20Policy%20Group%20on%20Local%20and%20Community%20Development%20to%20oversee%20development%20of%20effective%20arrangements%20for%20communication%2C%20consultation%20and%20coordination%20between%20national%2C%20local%20and%20community%20levels.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3ELocal%20authorities%20will%20exercise%20effective%20leadership%20to%20ensure%20greater%20coherence%20of%20service%20delivery.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EIn%20relation%20to%20community%20level%20work%2C%20local%20authorities%20will%20develop%20effective%20relationships%20between%20national%20and%20local%20government%20and%20communities%20and%20improve%20community%20participation%20through%20the%20PPN%20and%20other%20mechanisms.%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3EGovernment%2C%20acting%20primarily%20through%20local%20authorities%2C%20will%20implement%20monitoring%2C%20evaluation%20and%20review%20processes.%3C/li%3E%3C/ul%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0The%20draft%20Framework%20is%20clearly%20focused%20on%20government%E2%80%99s%20objective%20to%20move%20local%20authorities%20from%20%E2%80%98a%20peripheral%20involvement%20in%20local%20development%20programmes%E2%80%99%20to%20being%20the%20%E2%80%98primary%20vehicle%20of%20governance%20and%20public%20service%20at%20local%20level%E2%80%99.%20The%20previous%20reduction/absorption%20of%20the%20Community%20Development%20Programme%20and%20the%20granting%20of%20management%20oversight%20of%20SICAP%20to%20the%20LCDC%20facilitates%20the%20realisation%20of%20this%20objective.%C2%A0%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0The%20draft%20Framework%20is%20distinctly%20woolly%20in%20its%20understanding%20of%20the%20separate%20role%20and%20function%20of%20community%20development%20and%20local%20development%20and%20of%20the%20expected%20complementarity%20between%20the%20two.%20Community%20development%20is%20about%20social%20change%20linked%20to%20social%20justice%2C%20whereas%20local%20development%20seeks%20to%20garner%2C%20coordinate%20and%20direct%20resources%20towards%20local%20and%20regional%20development%20priorities%2C%20including%20addressing%20social%20exclusion%20%28provided%20resources%20are%20dedicated%20to%20supporting/strengthening%20the%20community%20sector%20to%20that%20purpose%29.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0Compared%20to%20the%202001%20White%20Paper%20there%20is%20little%20understanding%20that%20community%20development%20activity%20is%20based%20on%20independence%20and%20choice.%20Civil%20society%20organisations%20cannot%20therefore%20be%20organised%20and%20directed%20by%20the%20state%20without%20negotiation%20and%20consent.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20stating%20that%20community%20development%20organisations%20%E2%80%98have%20become%20overly%20dependent%20on%20statutory%20funding%E2%80%99%20there%20is%20some%20indication%20of%20a%20rejection%20of%20sole%20state%20responsibility%20to%20fund%20community%20development.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20contrast%20to%20the%202001%20White%20Paper%2C%20there%20is%20no%20acceptance%20of%20the%20right%20of%20the%20state%20and%20the%20community/voluntary%20sector%20to%20constructively%20critique%20each%20other%2C%20something%20that%20is%20essential%20to%20achieving%20better%20services%20and%20better%20outcomes%20for%20disadvantaged%20people.%20Neither%20is%20there%20an%20acceptance%20of%20the%20structural%20nature%20of%20social%20exclusion%20and%20inequality%20as%20in%20the%202001%20White%20Paper.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFinally%2C%20the%20draft%20Framework%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20outline%20the%20role%20of%20community%20development%20and%20local%20development%20in%20pioneering%20new%20approaches.%20The%20document%20is%20all%20about%20co-ordination%20and%20efficiency.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20conclusion%2C%20this%20is%20a%20draft%20paper%20for%20consultation%2C%20so%20there%20is%20an%20opportunity%20to%20inform%20its%20development.%20Given%20the%20concerns%20expressed%20above%2C%20and%20the%20variances%20with%20the%20principles%20informing%20the%202001%20White%20Paper%2C%20it%20is%20extremely%20important%20that%20the%20draft%20is%20influenced%20and%20improved.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3E%C2%A0%3C/b%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cul%20style%3D%22list-style-type%3A%20disc%3B%22%3E%3Cli%3E%E2%80%98Our%20Communities%3A%20A%20Framework%20Policy%20for%20Local%20and%20Community%20Development%20in%20Ireland%E2%80%99%20is%20available%20on%20the%20website%20of%20the%20Department%20of%20the%20Environment%2C%20Community%20and%20Local%20Government%3C/li%3E%3Cli%3E%3Cb%20style%3D%22line-height%3A%201.5em%3B%22%3E%C2%A0%3C/b%3E%3Ci%20style%3D%22line-height%3A%201.5em%3B%22%3EAiden%20Lloyd%20is%20a%20member%20of%20the%20Economic%2C%20Social%20and%20Cultural%20Rights%20Initiative%2C%20a%20network%20of%20organisations%20and%20individuals%C2%A0with%20a%20shared%20belief%20that%20increased%20protection%20of%20ESC%20rights%20in%20Irish%20law%20would%20contribute%20to%20a%20more%20just%2C%20inclusive%20and%20equal%20society.%20Aiden%20was%20the%20former%20National%20Community%20Development%20Coordinator%20at%20Pobal.%3C/i%3E%3C/li%3E%3C/ul%3E]

Posted in: community developmentlocal government