Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2019
589. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the review of the local community and economic plans; and if there is scope for migrant integration actions to be added to the plans in the context of the requirement of action 52 of the National Migrant Integration Strategy. [9706/19]
View answerProposals for a more joined-up approach to planning, oversight and management of local and community development are set out in Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government. Putting People First is the Government’s policy document on local government reform and development and provides for Local Community Development Committees, LCDCs, and new six-year Local Economic and Community Plans, LECPs, in all local authority areas. These proposals were given legal effect by the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
LECPs provide a framework for an integrated approach to economic, community and local development in their respective local authority areas, with the economic elements developed and implemented by local authorities and the community elements by LCDCs. LECPs were adopted in all areas by mid-2016.
A mid-term review of LECPs is due to commence in many areas in 2019. My Department will be engaging with the City and County Management Association in the coming weeks on how best to approach the review and to discuss options for a more in-depth revision of plans than originally envisioned. A more comprehensive approach may be appropriate given the significantly changed landscape since LCDCs and LECPs were introduced in 2014.
Whichever approach is agreed, local authorities will be advised to consider inter alia how best to incorporate priorities emerging from policies, strategies and plans developed since LECPs were first adopted. For example, LCDCs and local authorities would be expected to consider the scope for incorporating Sustainable Development Goals, climate action initiatives and other sectoral priorities, including migrant integration actions, into their revised LECPs.
My Department is already engaging proactively with other relevant Departments and agencies in this regard, including with the Department of Justice and Equality in relation to migrant integration priorities.
