Community

Supporting communities

Local authorities invest in communities through support for local and volunteer groups, providing community spaces in the local area, and including community members in consultation and decision-making processes.

Community initiatives and grants

Local authorities help to create vibrant and active communities by investing in local amenities and recreation, supporting community initiatives, and providing funding to local community groups. 

This includes support for:

• Community groups and activities
• Community centres
• Youth groups

The support can include providing funding for activities and events or grants for buildings and equipment. 

If you would like to learn more about the work of community groups in your area, or if you have a particular project you would like support on, visit the community section of your local authority’s website. 

Age Friendly Ireland

Age Friendly Ireland aims to make our cities and counties more accessible and inclusive for older people in the community. Age Friendly Programmes allow older people to live independent and valued lives, encouraging participation in the community and addressing inequality so that people of all ages can be healthier, more active and feel connected.

Age Friendly Ireland is a shared service across local government, supporting each of the 31 local authorities with the development of local Age Friendly Programmes. These can include actions across housing, health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, transport and employment.

Learn more at AgeFriendlyIreland.ie

TidyTowns

TidyTowns is a long-running competition encouraging communities across Ireland to take pride in their local area by looking after the local environment. The competition is judged across a number of categories including streetscapes and public places, green spaces, nature and biodiversity, tidiness and litter, and more.

The TidyTowns competition is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Local authorities support and encourage the work of TidyTowns groups by promoting their achievements, involving the groups in decision making processes through Public Participation Networks, providing equipment like litter pickers and bags, and in some cases providing funding for one-off projects. 

If you are interested in starting or joining a TidyTowns group, visit TidyTowns.ie.

Community development

Ensuring the economic, local and community development of the area is a key goal of the local authority. 

Working in partnership with community and voluntary groups and other public bodies, local authorities support the development and participation of communities through initiatives like:

• Community Action Plans
• Community and voluntary awards
• Financial support for community groups
• Community centres
• Providing new amenities and facilities
• Town and village renewal scheme

There are a number of formal processes that allow community members and groups to get involved in consultation, decision making and the development of their community. These include Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs), and Public Participation Networks (PPNs).

Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs)

LCDCs were introduced to improve community development and give local authorities a more central role in local and community development. 

LCDCs work together to:

• Co-ordinate and manage funding for local and community development
• Deliver and run local and community programmes
• Engage the community in a meaningful way in local and community development programmes
• Oversee how local and community programmes are being run
• Ensure programmes are being delivered in an efficient way 
• Improve the links between service delivery, policy development, and the local community
• Develop, review and monitor the implementation of the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP)
• Manage the Social Inclusion Activation Programme (SICAP) at a local level, supporting disadvantaged or marginalised communities and individuals.

Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are set up in each local authority area. They are made up of:

• Members of the local authority
• The local authority's Chief Executive or their representative
• People from public bodies who provide funding or services in the area
• People from the local community representing the social pillars and sectoral interests

If you are interested in learning more about LCDCs, visit your local authority website.

Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs)

Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs) support the sustainable development of our communities by setting out the objectives and actions needed to promote economic and community development in a local authority area. Working in partnership with economic and community development stakeholders such as community groups and local businesses, local authorities can work to improve quality of life in communities.

To find out about the work your local authority is doing on LECPs, visit the community section of your local authority website.

Public Participation Networks (PPNs)

Public Participation Networks are the link between the local authority, local community groups and voluntary organisations. Local authorities can consult with PPNs to gather information and expertise from community and volunteer groups in their area.

PPNs enable citizens and residents to contribute directly to local authority decision-making. They select representatives to sit on committees that develop and review local authority policy.

PPNs can also provide training opportunities to local community groups.

Each local authority has a PPN, and groups can join their local PPN if they are interested in becoming involved in local authority decision making processes.

PPN member groups include:

• Community groups like TidyTowns, sports clubs, meal on wheels, and cultural societies
• Local environmental organisations
• Groups working to promote social inclusion with marginalised groups such as people with disabilities, migrants, or Travellers.
• If you are interested in becoming involved with a PPN through a community or volunteer group, you can find a list of PPNs around the country here.

Accessibility and inclusion in the community

Our communities are for everyone. Making sure that everyone can participate and engage fully in community activities is essential to ensuring those communities can reach their full potential.

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure all residents in their area can participate in and access local amenities and services. 

Disability access

Local authorities support people with disabilities by providing accessible facilities and services. This includes providing:

• Accessible parking
• Ramps
• Sign interpreters
• Information in accessible formats
• Disability friendly sport facilities
• Assistive technology
• Audio loops

Travelling and Roma community

Local authorities support integration and social inclusion with the Travelling community through:

• National Day celebrations
• Traveller and Roma Pride Week
• Social Inclusion Week
• Traveller Interagency Group support
• Traveller needs assessment
• Traveller specific accommodation

Refugee and migrant communities

Local authorities support the integration and inclusion of refugee and migrant communities through:

• Local Authority Integration Teams (you can read more about these here)
• Community Integration Forums, which help agencies that support new communities co-ordinate their responses
• Social inclusion programmes
• Setting up groups to work with migrant communities
• Developing migrant integration strategies
• Intercultural cities programmes
• Refugee resettlement programmes