by Alan Jacques
THE Limerick Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) is playing a key role in the development of a six-year Local Economic and Community Plan for the city and county.
Established last year under the Government plan for effective local government, the committee comprises of 17 members drawn from both the statutory and non public and non-statutory socio-economic partners across Limerick and has oversight and responsibility for local development and community-related funding.
The LCDC is now working with the Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of the local authority to deliver the strategy, which is expected to be published in December. The plan will feature an integrated approach to local authority community development programmes, local development programmes funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) and those funded by other Departments.
Committee chairperson, Cllr Eddie Ryan said that the work of the LCDC will be “underpinned by a collaborative approach at local and central government level to support the streamlining of local development structures, as well as to ensure more targeted resource allocation and sustainable funding arrangements for Limerick”.
“Our key focus is to make sure that the delivery of public services is carried out in a way that is responsive to specific local needs and circumstances, and that all of Limerick benefits directly from State-funded local and community development interventions,” said Cllr Ryan.
Director of Services Josephine Cotter-Coughlan said a process of identifying actions that will strengthen and develop the economic and community sectors is underway.
