DRAFT 16/11/00
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT AND CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION
LESSONS FROM IRELAND
Jeanne Meldon, Jim Walsh and Michael Kenny
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1. In oduc ion........................................................................................................................................3
The alue and pu pose o pa icipa ion..........................................................................................3
De ining Pa icipa ion.....................................................................................................................3
Repo S uc u e...............................................................................................................................4
2. The Local Go e nmen Sys em: an o e iew....................................................................................5
Local Go e nmen s uc u es..........................................................................................................5
The ole o elec ed membe s...........................................................................................................5
The ci izen and Local Go e nmen .................................................................................................6
In oduc ion ....................................................................................................................................6
Ci izens and Planning.....................................................................................................................6
Case s udy.......................................................................................................................................6
3. Ci izen Pa icipa ion and Local Go e nance....................................................................................9
Local De elopmen S uc u es.........................................................................................................9
In oduc ion ....................................................................................................................................9
Pa ne ship and pa icipa ion..........................................................................................................9
A ea Pa ne ships..........................................................................................................................10
Case-s udy ....................................................................................................................................10
LEADER ......................................................................................................................................11
Case-s udY....................................................................................................................................12
4. The Re o m O Local Go e nmen - enhancing ci izen pa icipa ion............................................14
In oduc ion.....................................................................................................................................14
A new model o Local Go e nance..............................................................................................14
S a egic Policy Commi ees.........................................................................................................15
Coun y De elopmen Boa ds........................................................................................................15
Ci izen pa icipa ion on SPCs and CDBs .....................................................................................17
Case-s udies..................................................................................................................................18
Facili a ing Ci izen Pa icipa ion..................................................................................................21
Be e Deli e y o Local Go e nmen Se ices............................................................................21
In oduc ion ..................................................................................................................................21
Case S udy....................................................................................................................................22
5. Local Au ho i y Ini ia i es...............................................................................................................24
In oduc ion.....................................................................................................................................24
Local U ban and Ru al De elopmen ...........................................................................................24
Town and illage enewal.............................................................................................................24
Case-s udy ....................................................................................................................................24
In eg a ed en i onmen al managemen – Pa ne ship app oaches...........................................25
Local Agenda 21...........................................................................................................................25
Case-s udies..................................................................................................................................25
6. P omo ing Ci izen pa icipa ion.......................................................................................................29
Lessons lea ned...............................................................................................................................29
Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 31
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1. INTRODUCTION
1The pu pose o his epo is o p o ide a guide o ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and
go e nance in I eland as an aid o os e ing bes p ac ice in local de elopmen . The emi o he
local go e nmen sys em in I eland is o deli e a ange o se ices o he communi y ha i se es,
h ough a democ a ic sys em o locally elec ed councillo s. Howe e i is inc easingly ecognised ha
de elopmen is a mul i-dimensional p ocess inco po a ing quali y o li e objec i es, which can only
be success ully deli e ed h ough di ec pa icipa i e go e nance and c oss-sec o al pa ne ships. The
guide will discuss ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and go e nance in I eland h ough he use
o case s udies and examples, se wi hin he con ex o an unde s anding o he concep o
pa icipa ion.
THE VALUE AND PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATION
The issue o pa icipa ion, o he lack o i , has ound i s way on o na ional and in e na ional
agendas. In many pa s o he wo ld, in e es in esea ch and de elopmen in o pa icipa o y
de elopmen app oaches is inc easing. I is now accep ed ha ci izen pa icipa ion in local
de elopmen is he key o he equali y, inclusi eness and sus ainabili y o de elopmen .
DEFINING PARTICIPATION
I is impossible o es ablish a uni e sal de ini ion o pa icipa ion. An unde s anding o he
concep is o en assumed; in p ac ice, de elopmen ac ions a e o en based on di e ing pe cep ions
o pa icipa ion and di e en pe cep ions o he le el and quali y o pa icipa ion being sough , pa ly
because o he lack o expe ience o e ec i e pa icipa ion p ac ice.
The li e a u e gi es a se ies o de ini ions o pa icipa ion anging om “ oken in ol emen o
people”, o, “au onomous decision making by popula o ganiza ions a local le el” A i s mos basic,
pa icipa ion is " o ake pa " - his is e y simplis ic and implies ha e e yone is pa icipa ing a
some le el in e e y ac ion. I we a e o unde s and pa icipa ion we need o explo e beyond " aking
pa " and look o o he commen a o s who ha e explo ed he ex en and na u e o which people
“ ake pa ”.
Pla (1996) e e s o he h ee ypes o pa icipa ion o local communi ies and indi iduals. These
a e:
- Physical pa icipa ion - being p esen , using one's skills and e o s;
- Men al pa icipa ion - concep ualising he ac i i y, decision-making, o ganiza ion and
managemen ;
- Emo ional pa icipa ion - assuming esponsibili y, powe and au ho i y
Pa icipa ion can be op-down o bo om- up, uni o m o di e se, simple o complex, s a ic o
dynamic, con ollable o uncon ollable, p edic able o unp edic able. By in oducing p o essionals,
con ols, bu eauc acy and sys ems, pa icipa ion can loose i s spon anei y, i s lexibili y and i s
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use ulness. An accu a e de ini ion o pa icipa ion needs o accommoda e he complexi y inhe en in
pa icipa ion and he powe ela ionships ha enable o hinde pa icipa ion. Re e sing powe is he
key o pa icipa ion. "Pu ing people i s in de elopmen p ojec s is no jus abou o ganizing people
bu i means empowe ing hem o be social ac o s a he han passi e subjec s and ake con ol o e
he ac i i ies ha a ec hei li es." (Ce nea 1985).
Pa icipa ion is gene ally conside ed a co e alue in communi y de elopmen . While communi y
de elopmen has o a long ime been ecognized as a bene icial p ocess, he impo ance o
pa icipa ion wi hin communi y de elopmen has been inadequa ely s essed. This is pa ly due o he
lack o a clea in e p e a ion o de elopmen , and, he e o e, o he key cons i uen s o e ec i e
de elopmen . The need o a new pa adigm o add ess his de iciency was highligh ed by he UNDP
in i s Human De elopmen Repo , 1994. The UNDP's pa adigm:
"Pu s people a he cen e o de elopmen ;
Rega ds economic g ow h as a means and no an end;
P o ec s he li e oppo uni ies o u u e gene a ions as well as he p esen gene a ions".
The "Thi d Sec o " has been e e ed o as he inno a o o pa icipa o y esea ch and
de elopmen . Thi d Wo ld de elopmen app oaches ha e long ecognised he cen ali y o
pa icipa ion no only as a de elopmen s a egy bu also as a de elopmen objec i e. Howe e , in
ou “de eloped” socie ies we ha e no accep ed he impo ance o pa icipa ion o he same ex en
un il now. Acco ding o one expe in he ield o communi y de elopmen , “The e is a undamen al
ede ini ion occu ing in I ish socie y...a new ision o he u u e...happening a he inges o I ish
socie y a he han a i 's cen e...a he bo om a he han a he op...mo e likely o be ound in
communi y g oups a he han in uni e si ies; amongs women han amongs men and amongs
olun a y g oups a he han in s a e bodies" (Collins quo ed in Reynolds and Healy, 1993, p 103).
This shi is being pushed by he empowe men o ci izens h ough local de elopmen ini ia i es,
he gene al inc ease in awa eness and he g ow h in communi y based app oaches o de elopmen
which e lec s he ailu e o 'con en ional se ices' o sol e p oblems. The wo k unde aken in local
de elopmen in I eland has p o ided a labo a o y o expe imen wi h a ying p ocesses o
pa icipa ion. Howe e , li le, i any, c i ically e lec i e ene gy has up o now been in es ed in
iden i ying he models o good p ac ice. As I eland mo es apidly in o pos mode nism wi h he
in oduc ion o new “in eg a ed and inclusi e” s uc u es o local de elopmen planning and
managemen , we may see he dawn o a new highly pa icipa i e socie y.
REPORT STRUCTURE
This epo will p esen an o e iew o local go e nmen and go e nance in I eland wi h an
emphasis on ci izen pa icipa ion and models o good p ac ice. Local Go e nmen s uc u es
oge he wi h mechanisms o pa icipa ion a e ou lined in Sec ion 2. The local au ho i y sys em
p o ides a amewo k o deli e y o a ange o se ices anging om housing h ough o was e
managemen . The eme gence o local de elopmen s uc u es ou side o he local go e nmen
sys em, summa ised in Sec ion 3, has illus a ed he necessi y o di ec ci izen engagemen in he
de elopmen p ocess. Cen al go e nmen has esponded o he challenge wi h a e o m o local
go e nmen designed o enhance pa icipa o y democ acy (Sec ion 4) and by suppo ing a ea-based
local de elopmen p og ammes (Sec ion 5). In addi ion a numbe o local au ho i ies ha e become
p o-ac i ely in ol ed in championing local ini ia i es ha a e p ima ily p ocess o ien ed. Some
examples a e included in Sec ion 5. Lessons lea ned a e explo ed in Sec ion 6.
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2. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES
The Local Go e nmen sys em in I eland includes he local au ho i ies and he egional
au ho i ies. The elec ed local au ho i ies a e he coun y councils (29), he i e coun y bo ough
co po a ions ( ep esen ing he la ge u ban cen es), i e bo ough co po a ions, u ban dis ic
councils (49) and boa ds o own commissione s (30). The membe s o hese au ho i ies a e elec ed
by a sys em o p opo ional ep esen a ion, wi h elec ions aking place e e y i e yea s. Each
cons i uency is sub-di ided in o a numbe o local a eas om wi hin which candida es a e elec ed o
si on he council. The membe ship o coun y councils and coun y bo oughs anges om i een o
i y- wo. Bo ough councils ha e 12 membe s and u ban dis ic councils and boa ds o own
commissione s ha e nine membe s. The coun y councils and coun y bo oughs a e he p incipal
agen s o public adminis a ion wi h a lesse ange o unc ions coming wi hin he ambi o he o he
bodies. Town Commissione s ha e a mo e limi ed ange o unc ions han he o he au ho i ies.
The p incipal se ices p o ided by he local au ho i ies comp ise:
• Housing and building
• Road anspo a ion and sa e y
• Wa e supply and sewe age
• De elopmen incen i es and con ols including planning
• En i onmen al p o ec ion
• Rec ea ion and ameni ies
• Ag icul u e, educa ion, heal h and wel a e
• Miscellaneous se ices
Compa ed o o he Eu opean s a es, he I ish local go e nmen sys em is ela i ely weak wi h a
mo e limi ed ange o unc ions and powe s. Local au ho i ies ha e no ole in policing, public
anspo o pe sonal social se ices. Powe s in espec o educa ion, heal h and ag icul u e ha e been
se e ely cons ained (Local au ho i ies adminis e highe educa ion g an s; coun y oca ional
educa ion commi ees do no come wi hin he ci y and coun y managemen sys em). The only social
unc ion is in espec o housing.
THE ROLE OF ELECTED MEMBERS
The unc ions o local au ho i ies a e di ided in o execu i e and ese ed unc ions. The ese ed
unc ions a e pe o med di ec ly by he elec ed membe s and comp ise majo ma e s o policy and
p inciple. Such unc ions include he adop ion o annual es ima es, bo owing o money; he making
o de elopmen plans; making, amending o e oking bye-laws; b inging enac men in o o ce and
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nomina ing pe sons o ac on o he public bodies. Any unc ion ha is no a ese ed unc ion is he
esponsibili y o he execu i e. The policy ole o he elec ed membe s has no been ully ealised,
pa ly due o he lack o adequa e suppo sys ems.
THE CITIZEN AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION
S uc u es o pa icipa ion in local go e nmen a e in a s a e o lux in I eland wi h he ecen
es ablishmen o S a egic Policy Commi ees and Coun y De elopmen Boa ds. These s uc u es a e
examined in mo e de ail in Sec ion 3 below. In addi ion, in ecen yea s local au ho i ies ha e been
in ol ed in an inc easing numbe o ini ia i es in ol ing ci izen pa icipa ion in he deli e y o
se ices (see Sec ion 4). His o ically, apa om ep esen a ion h ough he democ a ic p ocess,
ci izens ha e pa icipa ed di ec ly in local go e nmen h ough a limi ed numbe o commi ees and
h ough he planning p ocess.
CITIZENS AND PLANNING
Planning is a signi ican unc ion o he local au ho i y. Day- o-day planning decisions on
indi idual planning applica ions a e an execu i e unc ion while he adop ion o De elopmen Plans
is a ese ed unc ion.
Unde cu en legisla ion and s uc u es a d a De elopmen Plan is p epa ed by he Council
Execu i e and is pu be o e he Elec ed Membe s. The D a is adop ed and pu on public display o
h ee mon hs, p io o i s inal a i ica ion 2 by he Council. Oppo uni y o public pa icipa ion is
la gely limi ed o eac ion o he d a Plan. Such in ol emen may be e med passi e consul a ion.
The e ms o a new Planning Ac (2000) enhance he scope and ange o pa icipa ion o ci izens in
he planning p ocess. The e is now a s a u o y obliga ion on he Planning Au ho i y o ad e ise i s
in en ion o p epa e a d a plan and o in i e commen s and submissions.
Indi iduals o communi y g oups o o ganisa ions also ha e a igh o make submissions on
planning applica ions. Unde he new Planning Ac (2000), he manage is equi ed o ake in o
accoun any objec ions lodged on planning applica ions whe eas p e iously hey may o may no
ha e been aken in o accoun by he planning au ho i y.
Despi e he limi a ions inhe en in he cu en sys em he e a e some examples whe e ci izen
pa icipa ion has ex ended beyond he scope o he egula o y amewo k hus poin ing o
oppo uni ies o de eloping models o good p ac ice o ac i e in ol emen in he planning p ocess.
CASE STUDY
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AREA PLANNING IN COUNTY CLARE
O e iew
Ballin uan/C usheen a e wo ownlands i e miles om he coun y own (Ennis) in he Mid-
Wes e n coas al coun y o Cla e, in he Wes o I eland. These u al based ownlands ha e jus
2 The e a e ela ed p ocedu es i he D a Plan is ma e ially al e ed as a esul o amendmen s esul ing om he public
display.
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ewe han 400 houses. The ownlands a e cha ac e ised by pocke s o high popula ion g ow h and
pocke s o se e e u al disad an age. The e a e closed houses and a signi ican numbe o houses
wi h single elde ly occupan s. The local economy is s ongly suppo ed by an ac i e wo king
popula ion who a el ou o he a ea o wo k in Ennis o u he a ield.
The local de elopmen council became e y conce ned ha he u al se ing o hese ownlands
would be adically al e ed by he spill-o e o housing om Ennis. They ea ed, om he
expe ience o many o he u al communi ies on he ou ski s o as de eloping u ban cen es, ha
pe missions o housing de elopmen would be g an ed wi hou consul a ion.
Because o he conce ns o he local g oup, hese ownlands we e selec ed as pilo a eas o a Cla e
LEADER (RRD) ini ia i e called he Local De elopmen Planning P og amme. The objec i es o
he p og amme we e:
- To engage maximum pa icipa ion o he communi y in he d awing up o he plan
- To p o ide ele an aining o build he capaci y o he communi y in he o mula ion and
implemen a ion o he plan
This p og amme is an inno a i e and comp ehensi e app oach o he assessmen o needs by
communi ies in u al a eas. In 1997 he pa ish o C usheen/Ballin uan oge he wi h Ru al
Resou ce De elopmen (RRD) and Cla e Coun y Council came oge he o o mula e a local
de elopmen plan o he wo ownlands. The pa icipa o y planning p ocess ha eme ged was
e y inno a i e in he con ex o local de elopmen and is a model o good p ac ice on posi i e
ci izen pa icipa ion.
P ocess
Following ini ial mee ings he pa ne s in his p ocess p oposed o use he ‘house mee ing’3 model
as a way o join ly assessing needs. The commi ee planned he p ocess, p epa ed wo k shee s,
called a b ie ing e ening o house mee ing hos s and leade s, o e saw he ca ying ou o he
p ocess and hen h ough a wo kshop assembled he eedback in o a bookle . Six een house
mee ings we e held wi h almos one hund ed and i y people a ending. A wide ange o
occupa ions and ages we e ep esen ed. The eedback om he house mee ings was e y posi i e
mainly because hey we e iendly and in o mal. The e we e high le els o pa icipa ion. People me
as neighbou s and iends o discuss he issues ha conce ned hem and exp essed a wish o do so
again. A a second ound o house mee ings, nomina ions we e aken o a S ee ing Commi ee,
made up o s akeholde s in he local planning p ocess, o o e see he planning p ocess and o ake
esponsibili y o he many aspec s o i . This G oup, including he olun ee local de elopmen
g ouping, me o ag ee collabo a i e ac ions o mo e e ec i e pa ne ship in mee ing needs and
imp o ed he quali y o li e in hose u al communi ies. Thi y- ou people became ac i ely
in ol ed in he p ocess. This planning o um me egula ly wi h ac i e pa icipa ion o de elop a
local de elopmen plan o mee local needs.
In he ollowing mon hs, a ision s a emen and objec i es we e p epa ed and he p o essional
planne was engaged o assis wi h he p ocess. This in ol ed o mula ing and de ising a
ques ionnai e o ga he in o ma ion om he people o he communi y which, ollowing analysis,
would iden i y he op ions o p ojec and p og amme de elopmen in he local a ea. The nex
s age o he p ocess is unde way, a p esen , o p io i ise op ions om he analysis and i is
expec ed ha he d a plan will be a ailable o he gene al communi y, o conside a ion in he
nea u u e. Du ing he p ocess, he communi y was consis en ly kep in o med o p og ess. This
3 This model builds on he concep o house s a ions in he wes o I eland.
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was an impo an ac o in ensu ing almos 87% esponse om all households h ough a
comple ed ques ionnai e.
Ou comes
The house mee ing consul a i e p ocess and he planning o um is deemed o be a e y good
model o local pa icipa ion and pa ne ship in planning local de elopmen . The planning o um,
which con inues o mee , is a e y open p ocess o wo-way in o ma ion exchange o in o ma ion
om Cla e Coun y Council and he local a eas. A high le el o us has de eloped wi h
ecogni ion o he openness and lexibili y o Cla e Coun y Council planning o icials. As he
p ocess is ongoing, he ou comes in e ms o mo e accep able decisions, mo e e ec i e se ice
deli e y and mo e sus ainable local de elopmen s uc u es ha e ye o be p o en.
An in eg al componen o he Local De elopmen Planning p ocess was he in oduc ion o he
capaci y building p og amme T aining o T ans o ma ion. I has made he di e ence in
building he capaci y o communi y by ecognizing hei own knowledge and expe ience and by
empowe ing pa icipan s o ake ac ion on ma e s ela ing o communi y li e.
The p ocess is being eplica ed in he adjoining pa ish o Feakle and a simila p ocess is unde way.
The expe ience o he pilo p ojec in C usheen/Ballin uan was o huge bene i o all o he
pa ne s in ol ed, in his la es ini ia i e, and while some changes ha e been made o he o iginal
p ocess, he o e all model and objec i es ha e been adhe ed o. The en i e p ocess has aken mo e
han wo yea s o comple e, wi h huge commi men om bo h communi ies.
The Local De elopmen Planning model b ings he e m "pa ne ship" in o a new dimension,
which allows o pa icipa ion, consul a ion and ans o ma ion.
Sou ce: A Re iew o Ru al Resou ce De elopmen L d. And LEADER II in Cla e 1999
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3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES
INTRODUCTION
The eme gence o a ea based local de elopmen s uc u es ou side o he local au ho i y sys em
has aken place in he con ex o a g owing ealisa ion globally, na ionally and locally ha o be
sus ainable, de elopmen should b ing abou no only an imp o emen in social and physical
condi ions bu i mus also con ibu e o an imp o emen in he capaci y o people and communi ies
o con ol and sus ain hose condi ions.
The limi a ions o bo h cen al and local go e nmen sys ems oge he wi h he pe cei ed ailu e
o he s a u o y agencies o add ess pe sis en p oblems o u ban unemploymen and disad an age
and o u al dep i a ion, led o he i s pilo a ea-based local de elopmen ini ia i es in he 1980’s.
EU unding mechanisms unde he S uc u al Funds p o ided he oppo uni y o u he expansion
o such ini ia i es du ing he pe iod o he i s Communi y Suppo F amewo k (CSF) o I eland,
1989-1993. Six een a ea-based pa ne ships we e es ablished on a pilo basis o ackle long- e m
unemploymen wi h he suppo o a global g an adminis e ed h ough ADM (A ea De elopmen
Managemen ). Coun y En e p ise Boa ds (CEBs) we e es ablished on a pilo basis o p omo e and
suppo mic o-en e p ises. In addi ion unde he LEADER 1 Communi y Ini ia i e, 16 LEADER
g oups we e es ablished in selec ed a eas o he coun y o p omo e an a ea-based app oach o u al
de elopmen . The LEADER II Communi y ini ia i e co e ing he pe iod 1994-1999 p o ided
unding o g oups on a coun ywide basis.
Unde he e ms o he Ope a ional P og amme o Local U ban and Ru al De elopmen 1994-
1999, u he unding was made a ailable o deli e in eg a ed p og ammes on (i) Local En e p ise
deli e ed h ough he mechanism o he Coun y En e p ise Boa ds on a coun ywide basis, (ii)
In eg a ed de elopmen o designa ed disad an aged and o he a eas o be deli e ed la gely h ough
he A ea Pa ne ships, and (iii) u ban and illage enewal. These measu es we e o complemen he
unding made a ailable h ough LEADER II. The objec i e o he Ope a ional P og amme was o
b ing abou social and economic de elopmen a local le el, o in ol e and o enable local
communi ies o be in ol ed in ha de elopmen in a o mal way and o achie e physical
imp o emen s o he en i onmen (OPLURD 1994-1999).
The p og amme ecognised he ole which local ini ia i es can play as a ca alys o local
economic, social and en i onmen al de elopmen and he impo ance o locally based measu es o
complemen he na ional app oach. Fo example, he ole o he Coun y En e p ise Boa ds is o
de elop indigenous po en ial and s imula e economic ac i i y a local le el, h ough he p o ision o
inancial assis ance and echnical suppo o he de elopmen o mic o en e p ises unde aken by
indi iduals, i ms and communi y g oups and suppo he c ea ion o an en e p ise pa ne ship a
local le el be ween he social pa ne s, inancial ins i u ions and local communi ies ha had no been
achie ed a local go e nmen o s a u o y le els.
PARTNERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION
Signi ican ly he Ope a ional P og amme acknowledged he pa icula impo ance o di ec
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- Simplici y The unc ions and oles o bodies a local le el should be
clea -cu & simple as easible;
- Thema ic and a ea-based
app oaches
The wo should be combined o maximum a ec ;
- Volun a y e o Exis ing olun a y e o should be e ained and ha nessed;
- Local Go e nmen Mus become pa icipa i e as well as ep esen a i e;
- Linkages wi h o he
p og ammes
Including he deli e y o EU p og ammes
- Value o money
The ecommenda ions o he Task Fo ce led o he es ablishmen o Coun y De elopmen
Boa ds wi h e ec om 1s Janua y 2000 as pa o he in eg a ion p ocess be ween local go e nmen
and local de elopmen a coun y le el. The composi ion and unc ioning o he Boa ds is in ended o
e lec he se o p inciples se down by he Task Fo ce.
These boa ds will eplace Coun y S a egy G oups, which p e iously had a limi ed coo dina ing
ole o some local se ices. The p ima y unc ions o he CDBs will be o d aw up a comp ehensi e
s a egy o economic, social and cul u al de elopmen wi hin he coun y and o o e see i s
implemen a ion.
I is en isaged ha CDBs will ha e a pa icula ole in ensu ing co-o dina ion o local se ice
deli e y. The CDB will de elop a ision a local le el o encompass a ious local and sec o al plans;
p o ide he ocus o co-ope a ion on a con inuing basis a coun y le el in he wo k o he a ious
agencies, p omo e co-o dina ion and by b inging oge he he a ious in e es s, seek o maximise he
e ec i eness o spending on p og ammes and p ojec s a local le el included in he Na ional
De elopmen Plan.
The ecen ly appoin ed Di ec o s o Communi y and En e p ise ha e d awn up a egis e o
communi y and olun a y o ganisa ions in hei a eas in e es ed in pa icipa ing in he Boa d and i s
suppo s uc u es. Volun a y and communi y g oups om a ange o sec o s including communi y
o u al de elopmen , conse a ion, cul u e, he i age, Gael ac h , communi y in as uc u e o he
en i onmen , ec ea ion, disad an age, disabled and o he s we e in i ed o egis e wi h he Coun y
Council in o de o join a Communi y and Volun a y Fo um o each elec o al a ea om which
ep esen a i es ha e been nomina ed o he Boa ds. As Table 1 illus a es, he di e en local
pa ne ships (ADM Pa ne ship Companies, LEADER companies and CEBs) a e all ep esen ed on
he Boa ds. Fo he i s ime he communi y and olun a y sec o is being suppo ed o ul il i s ole
as a social pa ne a local le el (see case s udy Mea h CDB).
One o he cen al asks o he CBD is o d aw up a s a egy o economic, social and cul u al
de elopmen wi hin each coun y/ci y a ea. The s a egy which is due o be inalised by Janua y 2002
will be an ag eed amewo k o o e all objec i es and a ge s in o which ele an plans can i and
no a de ailed sec o -by-sec o plan. Responsibili y o he deli e y o de ailed sec o al plans will
emain wi h he ele an pa ne s, including sec o al agencies and Pa ne ship companies.
16

Table 1 Coun y De elopmen Boa d Typical Membe ship S uc u e
Sec o MEMBERS
Local
GOVERNMENT
• SPC Chai s
• Ca haoi leach
• Coun y /Ci y Manage
• U ban Rep esen a i e
LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
Two ep esen a i es om each o he ollowing
ypes o local de elopmen bodies:
• Coun y En e p ise Boa ds
• LEADER G oups
• ADM-suppo ed Pa ne ship Companies &
Communi y G oups
STATE AGENCIES Rep esen a i es o s a e agencies ac i e in he a ea
as app op ia e: including Hea h Boa d, FAS, VEC,
Teagasc, En e p ise I eland, IDA, Uda as na
Gael ach a, Dep . o Social, Communi y & Family
A ai s and he Regional Tou ism Au ho i ies.
SOCIAL PARTNERS • Employe s and Business O ganisa ions (1)
• T ade Unions (1)
• Ag icul u al & Fa ming O ganisa ions (1)
• Communi y & Volun a y O ganisa ions (2)
In addi ion o he in ol emen o he Boa d i sel in he p epa a ion o he s a egy, ad hoc
wo king g oups co e ing a a ie y o hemes as app op ia e o pa icula coun ies, such as social
inclusion, adul lea ning, u al anspo , ou ism, spa ial planning and o he s will be se up o
acili a e consul a ion and pa icipa ion in he p ocess o p epa ing he coun y s a egy. These g oups
will include communi y ep esen a i es.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ON SPCS AND CDBS
In oduc ion
The Be e Local Go e nmen P og amme e e ed o abo e, seeks o enhance he elec o al
manda e wi hin local Go e nmen by s eng hening he co po a e posi ion o elec ed membe s
h ough he o mula ion o a es uc u ed commi ee sys em, namely S a egic Policy Commi ees
(SPCs). The p oposed new sys em acknowledges ha elec ed ep esen a i es should be engaged a an
ea ly s age in policy o mula ion. I also seeks o b oaden in ol emen in Local Go e nmen h ough
he pa icipa ion o a ange o sec o al in e es s. The Depa men o En i onmen and Local
Go e nmen issued guidelines in No embe 1997, se ing ou a amewo k wi hin which each local
au ho i y should de ise and es ablish an app op ia e SPC s uc u e.
17
The in en ion is ha SPCs should:
• Assis he Council in he o mula ion, de elopmen and e iew o policy
• Re lec he majo unc ions o se ices o a local au ho i y wi hin a b oade con ex
The SPC sys em is in ended o gi e councilo s and ele an sec o al in e es s an oppo uni y o
ull in ol emen in he policy-making p ocess om he ea ly s ages, when policy op ions a e mo e
luid. SPCs can p o ide ad ice/ epo s e c. di ec ly o he Council on ma e wi hin hei ange o
esponsibili ies o on ela ed issues, ei he hei own ini ia i e o as decided by he Council.
In e ms o ci izen pa icipa ion he mos impo an sec o s ep esen ed on he SPCs and CDB
a e he public ep esen a i es and he ep esen a i es o he communi y and olun a y sec o in he
coun y. This p ocess was he i s ime ha he communi y and olun a y sec o we e, as a ma e o
go e nmen policy, being in i ed as ull pa ne s o pa icipa e in s a egic planning a coun y le el. I
was also a e y signi ican s ep in enhancing ci izen pa icipa ion and, hope ully suppo ing
ep esen a i e democ acy wi h pa icipa i e democ acy.
CASE-STUDIES
DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES
Dunlaoghai e-Ra hdown is loca ed o he sou h o Dublin ci y along he coas and is a la gely u ban
a ea wi h Dunlaoghai e Bo ough a i s co e. I ex ends in o he oo hills o he Dublin Moun ains.
S uc u e and Membe ship o SPC's
Dunlaoghai e-Ra hdown Coun y Council has es ablished i e commi ees o co e he ollowing
a eas o policy: Cul u e, Communi y De elopmen and Ameni ies; En i onmen ; housing; Economic
De elopmen and Planning; and T anspo a ion. Each commi ee is chai ed by a Councillo and
ypically has ele en councillo s ep esen ing he local go e nmen sec o , one ep esen a i e om
each o he a ming, business/comme cial sec o s, wo communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o
ep esen a i es and one o h ee om en i onmen , conse a ion/cul u al in e es s as app op ia e.
Fo ma ion & Cons i u ion o SPCs: elec ion o Communi y Rep esen a i es
A i s ound o S a egic Policy Commi ees was es ablished in 1998/1999. The commi ees we e e-
es ablished in 2000 ollowing he issuing o new guidelines by Go e nmen . The Council unde ook
consul a ion wi h he communi y o ill he places on he a ious commi ees. Fo he ini ial ound
he Council unde ook he ollowing consul a ion p ocess wi h he communi y:
• Con ac ed o ganisa ions ha hey a e awa e o
• Placed public ad e isemen s in i ing applica ions
• Held public mee ings
• Employed independen acili a o s o selec ion mee ings
Fo he second ound he Council:
• W o e o all hose ha a ended p e iously
• Con ac ed o e 300 g oups on he Coun y De elopmen Boa d mailing lis
• A ended he Communi y Pla o m (which ep esen s he communi y and olun a y sec o )
While he elec ion o communi y ep esen a i es was he esponsibili y o he o ganisa ions, he
Council speci ied a numbe o sub-sec o s ha hey wished o ha e ep esen ed on he ele an SPC
18
such as:
• Spo
• Residen s/O he
• You h
• T a elle s
• Disabili y
• En i onmen /cul u e
Each sub-sec o h ough a acili a ed elec ion p ocess elec ed a nominee(s) o he ele an SPCs.
The e we e in o al se en communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o ep esen a i es elec ed o he
commi ees. A o al o 104 communi y/ olun a y/disad an aged sec o g oups esponded o he
p ocess. I is he esponsibili y o each o he sub-sec o al ep esen a i es o p o ide eedback o he
g oups wi hin hei sub-sec o . The council will acili a e his p ocess h ough he p o ision o a
mailing lis and o a enue should hey wish o mee wi h he g oups wi hin hei sub-sec o .
T aining is being p o ided o he SPC membe s on how he Local Au ho i y wo ks. Fu he aining
will be o ganised na ionally by cen al Go e nmen o co e a eas such as consensus building,
eamwo k, he na u e o decision-making, e c.
The SPC's ha e only me once so a a an in o mal plena y mee ing. The i s o mal mee ing is o
ake place nex mon h. I is he e o e no possible o measu e he ou comes o he p ocess. Howe e
some o he SPCs du ing he i s ound had made ecommenda ions o he council, which we e
adop ed and esul ed in changes, been made.
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION - MEATH STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES &
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
This case s udy will de ail he p ocess o selec ing and elec ing o ep esen a i es o m he
communi y & olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h o pa icipa e in he allo ed posi ions in bo h he
SPCs and CDB.
P ocess
The i s s ep in selec ing communi y & olun a y ep esen a i es was o in o m and consul he
communi y & olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h ega ding local go e nmen e o ms and he
oppo uni y o hei pa icipa ion. This ask was unde aken by he newly es ablished o ice o he
Di ec o o Communi y & En e p ise in Coun y Mea h. This is a local au ho i y con ac
appoin men .
A public in o ma ion mee ing a ge ed a all hose g oups and indi iduals’ ac i e in he communi y
and olun a y sec o in Coun y Mea h was called in mid Feb ua y 2000. A ha mee ing i was
ag eed ha he ollowing p ocess would be u ilised in ela ion o he es ablishmen o he Coun y
Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o and he selec ion o ep esen a i es o si
on he Mea h Coun y De elopmen Boa d (CDB) and he ou S a egic Policy Commi ees (SPC’s)
o be es ablished by Mea h Coun y Council:
• Regis a ion o all communi y & olun a y sec o g oups o he pu pose o making a
nomina ion(s). A se o c i e ia o de e mine hose eligible o egis e was ag eed.
• Nomina ions o he posi ions on he CDB and SPCs we e in i ed acco ding o ag eed
19
p ocedu es. Nomina ions we e submi ed o he o ice o he Di ec o o Communi y &
En e p ise by an ag eed da e.
• A he i s mee ing o he newly o med Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and
Volun a y Sec o nominees we e in i ed o speak o 5 minu es on hei easons o going
o wa d and wha hey would b ing o he ole. The mee ing also acili a ed a ound able o
nominees o discuss issues.
• A second mee ing o Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o was
called o a i y he nomina ions and ag ee he o ing p ocess.
• Ballo pape s we e p epa ed by Mea h Coun y Council o icials and we e sen o all egis e ed
o ing g oups egis e ed o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o
and he o ice o he Di ec o o Communi y & En e p ise.
• Mea h coun y council o icials o icia ed a he o ing p ocess ha was held in conjunc ion wi h
he nex mee ing o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o .
Vo ing was conduc ed acco ding o he p opo ional ep esen a ion sys em and esul s we e
announced ha nigh a he mee ing.
• Elec ed candida es me as a g oup wi h an ex e nal acili a o o cla i y oles, o de e mine a
collec i e p ocess and o ag ee p io i ies. A p ocess o eedback h ough he Coun y Mea h
Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o was ag eed and a suppo mechanism o
hese olun a y elec ed ep esen a i es p oposed.
Ou comes
The p ocess was implemen ed as ag eed and p o ed bo h e ec i e and educa ional. As an ou come,
he pla o m is es ablished and nine people om he communi y and olun a y sec o ha e aken
hei places on he SPCs and CDB. They a e wo king as a eam and ha e he pla o m as hei o um
wi hin he sec o o consul on an on-going basis. The inaugu al mee ings o he CDB and he SPCs
we e held and wo k is ongoing.
The eedback om he in o ma ion dissemina ion p ocess, he nomina ion p ocess, he elec ion
p ocess and he eam wo king o he elec ed ep esen a i es was e y posi i e.
Howe e i s ill emains o he e ec i eness o he communi y & olun a y sec o ep esen a i es
on he boa d o he CDB and SPCs o be demons a ed. Equally he e ec i eness o he eedback
mechanism o he Coun y Mea h Pla o m o he Communi y and Volun a y Sec o , and he
e ec i eness o his pla o m, has s ill o be p o en.
I mus be no ed ha he abo e p ocess ma ks a signi ican s ep o wa d in e ms o ci izen
pa icipa ion, pa icula ly ci izen ac i is s in he communi y & olun a y sec o , because:
• I is he i s ime ha he communi y and olun a y sec o has been ecognised o icially as a key
pa ne in local de elopmen a coun y le el
• I is he i s o mal o ganisa ion o ac i is s in he communi y and olun a y sec o a coun y
le el
• I is he i s in eg a ed ep esen a ion o he communi y and olun a y sec o on he s a egic
planning commi ees o he coun y
• I is he i s ime ha he local au ho i y has commi ed o p o iding esou ces o suppo he
o ganisa ion o he communi y and olun a y sec o a coun y le el.
This p ocess is a s a egic ecogni ion o he lea ning and wo k achie ed h ough local de elopmen
o ganisa ions in I eland o e he las decade and he impac o he EU unding o s eng hen he
communi y & olun a y sec o
20
I is also he i s applied ecogni ion o he ole and ela ionship o pa icipa i e democ acy side by
side wi h ep esen a i e democ acy, and i is he i s eal challenge o he communi y and olun a y
sec o o pa icipa e ully and equally wi h he social pa ne s, public ep esen a i es and he s a ua y
sec o in he p epa a ion o , and consequen deli e y o , a de ailed s a egic documen o he
in eg a ed de elopmen o he whole coun y.
FACILITATING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
A numbe o issues need o be add essed o ensu e ha communi y ep esen a i es will be able
o pa icipa e ully. The le el o eadiness o pa icipa e in such s uc u es a ies signi ican ly wi h
some ep esen a i es well used o dealing wi h s a e agencies in he cou se o hei wo k while o he s
ha e no such expe ience and eel o e -awed by he p ocess. Gaps exis in he le el o knowledge o
how he local au ho i y wo ks. In he iew o a local go e nmen o icial, he S a egic Policy
Commi ees o e po en ial o enhanced ci izen pa icipa ion bu i is expec ing a lo om olun a y
people o con ibu e o complex issues such as social housing, planning, e c. especially as less and less
people a e willing o olun ee . The aining e e ed o abo e will help o o e come some o hese
ba ie s.
The e is also a esou ce issue o communi y ep esen a i es because o he ime inpu in ol ed
o membe s ep esen ing a olun a y commi ee ha would no ha e ei he he inancial o
adminis a i e esou ces o suppo ha pe son.
Holding mee ings in he Council Chambe is an issue o some. This is ega ded as councillo s’
e i o y and some o he o he sec o s eel a a disad an age. The deg ee o accep ance by o he
sec o s o he in ol emen o he communi y sec o a ies om po en ial oppo uni y o in usion.
BETTER DELIVERY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
INTRODUCTION
The de elopmen o new s uc u es o enhance ci izen pa icipa ion in local go e nmen and o
aid he in eg a ion o local de elopmen sys ems has o be accompanied by new and inno a i e
measu es o imp o e he deli e y o local se ices. In o de o imp o e he deli e y, a numbe o
local au ho i ies ha e emba ked on a decen alisa ion p og amme o b ing se ices, which equi e
di ec con ac be ween ci izens and s a close o ci izens. Fo example in Donegal, six new council
o ices a e planned wi h h ee al eady buil . In he case o Donegal, he new o ices will be s a ed by
he app op ia e pe sonnel ac ually dealing wi h he se ice in ol ed – such as planning, mo o ax,
was e collec ion, connec ion o wa e se ices, e c. I is en isaged ha s a wo king a local le el will
be delega ed o ake decisions in espec o ce ain unc ions. Space is being p o ided in he new local
o ices o accommoda e a ea based s a om local de elopmen agencies including LEADER
companies, Pa ne ship Boa ds, Coun y En e p ise Boa ds and Communi y in o ma ion Cen e
Se ices.
21

CASE STUDY
ENHANCING DELIVERY THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & ONE-STOP-
SHOPS IN COUNTY MEATH
Backg ound
Mea h Coun y Council is commi ed o ci izen access o all ac i i ies o he coun y council as a means
o sus aining local de elopmen , o encou aging e ec i e in e ac ion wi h ci izens and as he mos
e icien me hod o decision-making. The Coun y Council has de eloped a s a egy o decen alise
access o in o ma ion and decision making o he local elec o al a ea le el h ough “One-S op-
Shops”. In o ma ion echnology (IT) is cen al o his p ocess. Wi h cen al go e nmen suppo
Mea h coun y Council ini ia ed a s a egy o open an in eg a ed local au ho i y se ice poin o “One-
S op-Shop” in each elec o al dis ic , suppo ed by a oll ou o accessible in o ma ion p o ision
h ough a ious echnologies.
To suppo his ini ia i e, Mea h Coun y Council commissioned a epo in Feb ua y 1998 o de ise a
model o quali y public se ice deli e y in he No h Mea h a ea, se ed by he own o Kells. The
consul an s we e asked o e iew he pe cep ions o people li ing in No h Mea h ega ding public
se ice p o ision, o consul s a e agencies ega ding hei me hod o se ice deli e y and o p opose
a “One-S op-Shop” model o enhanced and sus ainable public se ice deli e y o he a ea. This
epo iden i ies he possibili ies o ci izen pa icipa ion h ough IT and is an excellen p ac ical
documen o guide he planning and implemen a ion o a u al based “One-S op-Shop” o he
deli e y o public se ice and local in o ma ion/se ices.
The epo no es ha he de elopmen o a local IT se ice cen es, o “One-S op-Shop”, p o ided
an oppo uni y o de ine se ices acco ding o he needs o he communi y. Ra he han jus a new
o ice loca ion p o iding he same se ices ha we e always a ailable, i could p o ide he
oppo uni y o de elop a aluable esou ce cen e and a o um o ongoing assessmen and co-
o dina ion o local se ices. The consul a ion p ocess showed a eadiness on he pa o se ice
p o ide s and he communi y o wo k owa ds such an a ea-based public se ice deli e y app oach.
The epo made he ollowing ecommenda ions.
• An in e -agency commi ee is es ablished o se up he “One-S op-Shop” wi h ull IT acili ies
• An in e -agency o um is es ablished o look a and de elop models o in eg a ion o public
se ice deli e y in a eas such as join needs assessmen , consul a ion and s a egic planning
• Se ice p o ision agencies should adop a common planning p ocess, p oducing i e yea public
se ice plans based on a common and in eg a ed assessmen o needs in each local a ea
• A pa ne ship model (public agencies, social pa ne s and communi y ep esen a i es wo king
oge he ) o public se ice deli e y be adop ed a a ea le el, h ough a “One-S op-Shop”, and
hen a local communi y le el based on an a ea plan
• The “One-S op-Shop” be es ablished as a single poin o con ac in a cen al loca ion o he
in eg a ed p o ision o gene al and speci ic in o ma ion on public and local se ices wi h a
ollow-up a ge ed e e al se ice
• To acili a e ne wo king, join aining days be a anged o s a om all agencies o inc ease
awa eness o each agency’s ocus and se ices
• S a om all agencies o a end cus ome ca e cou ses oge he .
• Tha IT p o ides he mos use ul cos e ec i e ool o need moni o ing, emo e consul a ion
and in eg a ed se ice deli e y.
22
The ollow on o he epo demons a es he di icul y in esponding o he challenges o IT o
ci izen pa icipa ion in se ice deli e y. These include:
• Inaccessibili y and lack o amilia i y o IT wi h he a e age ci izen, bu pa icula ly among hose
mos excluded
• The lack o amilia i y among se ice agencies wi h IT as a medium o se ice deli e y
• The indi idualised na u e o s a u o y se ice p o iding agencies
• The cos and incon enience o shi ing om he amilia model o se ice deli e y o he less
amilia ou each/one s op shop/IT model o se ice deli e y.
Ac ions & P og ess
In andem wi h he epo Mea h Coun y Council is implemen ing a phased p ocess o se ing up
local au ho i y “One-S op-Shops” in each local elec o al a ea. These “One-S op-Shop” cen es will
ha e a s a e o he a IT in as uc u e o suppo local ci izen pa icipa ion, ull anspa ency o
in o ma ion and empowe men o decision-making. This ini ia i e by Mea h Coun y Council is a
clea indica ion ha he local au ho i y expec s o he s a e se ice p o ide s o ollow his lead and
deli e in eg a ed se ices locally.
Mea h Coun y Council has opened a “One-S op-Shop” in wo elec o al a eas in Coun y Mea h in he
las yea . In bo h cen es all easible e o s a e being made o decen alise decision-making and o
maximise public access o in o ma ion. Ini ia i es a e unde way o imp o e communica ion sys ems
o local au ho i y s a wo king ou o he “One-S op-Shop”.
Howe e , when compa ed o he epo ecommenda ions, much mo e needs o be done o enable
g ea e ci izen pa icipa ion. Some o he ac ion a eas ye o be de eloped include:
• Dialogue wi h s a ua y p o ide s o a ge ed se ices, e.g. se ices o hose wi h disabili ies
• Dialogue wi h p i a e sec o se ice p o ide s, e.g. anspo p o ide s
• Dialogue wi h communi y and olun a y g oups o inc ease impac , e.g. access o mos
ma ginalised
• Dialogue wi h ci izens h ough pa icipa i e o a and panels o de e mine needs and mos
app op ia e means o deli e y
• G ea e use o IT public assess poin s o in o ma ion access
• G ea e use o public no ice boa ds
• Awa eness and aining o local au ho i y and public se ice agency s a on he use o IT
• Inc eased amilia isa ion o IT among he public
Concu en ly, he es ablishmen o he Coun y De elopmen Boa ds a e ‘encou aging’ all sec o s in
Mea h o co-ope a e in de eloping in eg a ed models o se ice deli e y. Fu he mo e, he
es ablishmen o a coun y le el communi y and olun a y sec o pla o m and local elec o al a ea
communi y and olun a y sec o o a will p o ide he o a o op imise in e ac ion wi h communi y
o ganisa ions. The CCDB p ocess oge he wi h ully esou ced “One-S op-Shops” could help o
ensu e uni e sally equi able access o public se ices, using he mos app op ia e echnology.
23
5. LOCAL AUTHORITY INITIATIVES
INTRODUCTION
Local au ho i ies in I eland ha e been in ol ed in a numbe o ini ia i es, some s imula ed by
EU unding mechanisms such as he own and illage enewal scheme, o he s by he Local Agenda
p ocess such as he Co k En i onmen al Fo um which ha e p o ided he oppo uni y o a mo e
pa icipa i e app oach o he deli e y o local se ices. O he ini ia i es ha e de eloped om local
au ho i y and communi y co-ope a ion se wi hin a Local Agenda 21 con ex and acili a ed by
unding sou ces ha included he LIFE p og amme, he EU inancial ins umen o he
en i onmen . Two examples o such p ojec s ha di ec ly in ol ed local au ho i ies we e he Bea ha
eco-label p ojec and he Ban y Bay Cha e .
LOCAL URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TOWN AND VILLAGE RENEWAL
Unde he measu e o own and illage enewal, included in he sub-p og amme on Local U ban
and Ru al De elopmen which was pa o he CSF o I eland 1994-1999 (see also Sec ion 3 abo e),
schemes we e d awn up in consul a ion wi h local communi ies o enewal o own and illages in
many pa s o he coun y. Th ough consul a ion be ween Council o icials and councillo s om
each elec o al a ea, pa ish councils, local de elopmen g oups, chambe s o comme ce, social and
communi y se ice o ganisa ions, p io i ies o each own o illage we e nego ia ed, he local
in as uc u e was imp o ed and enewal and egene a ion measu es we e pu in place.
The ex en o he pa icipa i e p ocess in ol ed a ied om one local au ho i y o ano he bu
he be e -managed schemes se e as use ul models o communi y in ol emen in he deli e y o
local imp o emen schemes and as p o o ypes o a mo e pa icipa i e app oach o he p epa a ion
o De elopmen Plans and planning schemes gene ally wi hin local au ho i ies.
CASE-STUDY
WESTMEATH URBAN & VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME 1994-1999
In Wes mea h local council membe s selec ed a numbe o owns and illages om hose ha me
he equi emen s, o pa icipa e in he scheme. When app o al was ecei ed o he selec ed owns
and illages Wes mea h Coun y Council p omo ed he schemes by a ange o me hods including
no ices in local newspape s, newsle e s, public mee ings and local adio. In addi ion di ec con ac
was made wi h local g oups such as Tidy Towns by local councillo s and a ea enginee s pa icula ly in
he case o he Village Renewal Scheme o encou age hem o be in ol ed in he implemen a ion o
he scheme.
The imescale o p epa a ion o plans and implemen a ion o he scheme limi ed he oppo uni y o
public consul a ion. Examining he le el and na u e o he ci izen in ol emen wi hin he scheme in
Wes mea h a mix u e o eedback was ecei ed. Some el ha he ime ame o he p epa a ion o
plans was oo igh o allow o any eal consul a ion om he public. On he o he hand some
g oups we e e y happy wi h he le el o consul a ion and in ol emen hey had h oughou he
scheme. The le el o sa is ac ion o o he wise wi h he consul a ion was o some ex en de e mined
by expe ience in local pa icipa ion, commi men o he p ocess as well as he wo kload o he
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Coun y Council s a in ol ed. Du ing he cou se o he implemen a ion o he P og amme, he
Council became inc easingly awa e o he alue o wo king wi h he local communi y in designing
and implemen ing he Scheme wi hin he selec ed owns and illages. Thus hose communi ies
in ol ed a a la e s age in he p ocess ended o ha e a mo e posi i e expe ience o wo king wi h he
Coun y Council.
In pa allel wi h he U ban and Village Renewal Scheme he Wes mea h LEADER g oup was wo king
wi h local communi ies and Tidy Towns G oups in de eloping Village enhancemen plans. These
ac ions ed in o he scheme and also ga e he local communi y he con idence and esou ces o wo k
wi h he Coun y Council.
Th ough in ol emen wi h bo h he LEADER P og amme and he own and illage enewal
scheme, he local communi ies became mo e awa e o he Local De elopmen p ocess, how Local
Go e nmen wo ked and how hey could ha e a ole in he enhancemen o hei own own o
illage. This awa eness was also c ea ed by g oups ne wo king and h ough newsle e s.
Wes mea h Coun y Council has also become mo e conscious o he local de elopmen p ocess and
he long- e m alue o encou aging and assis ing ci izen pa icipa ion and owne ship in he wo k i
does. Some s a el ha hey need mo e aining o assis hem in wo king wi h local communi ies
in o de o allow hem o wo k mo e e ec i ely o encou age communi y pa icipa ion and
owne ship in he de elopmen o local a eas.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – PARTNERSHIP APPROACHES
LOCAL AGENDA 21
Agenda 21 is a bluep in endo sed by o e 150 coun ies a he 1992 UN Con e ence on
en i onmen and de elopmen in Rio de Janei o o how he na ions o he wo ld can wo k
indi idually and collec i ely owa ds sus ainable de elopmen . Sus ainable de elopmen is no jus
abou en i onmen al p o ec ion; i is also conce ned wi h he quali y o li e, wi h equi y, including he
dis ibu ion o esou ces, and wi h he in e ac ions be ween en i onmen and de elopmen . Local
Agenda 21 is pa o he p ocess o de ining and a icula ing sus ainable de elopmen a a
local/ egional le el and iden i ying how i can bes be achie ed. Consul a ion and consensus building
a e essen ial elemen s bu local au ho i ies may choose di e en means o de elop he p ocess.
Sus ainable de elopmen can only be b ough abou h ough coope a ion and pa ne ship be ween
di e en in e es s and g oups in socie y.
CASE-STUDIES
CORK ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM
The Co k En i onmen al Fo um was es ablished by Co k Coun y Council ea ly in 1995 as a c oss-
communi y based ini ia i e o os e , p omo e and implemen sus ainable de elopmen wi hin he
Co k egion unde he auspices o Local Agenda 21 and in acco dance wi h he b oad objec i es o
and he Eu opean Union Fi h Ac ion P og amme on he En i onmen , Towa ds Sus ainabili y. The
Fo um includes ep esen a i es om a ange o sec o al in e es s including communi y o ganisa ions
and s a u o y agencies. Mee ings and wo kshops ake place abou e e y six weeks a a ious loca ions
a ound he coun y and a e open o all in e es ed pa ies.
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5. Models o bes p ac ice in op imum pa icipa ion need o be in eg a ed in o local
s uc u es egula ly.
6. Real ci izen pa icipa ion equi es a change in cul u e among o mal o ganisa ions and a
change in expec a ions among ci izens.
7. Le els o ci izen pa icipa ion need o be g aded om minimum in ol emen o a ull
sense o owne ship.
8. Real pa icipa ion p ocesses equi e a commi men o esou ces om all sec ions o
make all pa icipan s s akeholde s.
9. Ci izen pa icipa ion is no jus a change in s uc u e o he in oduc ion o new
s uc u es. Real ci izen pa icipa ion is an in eg a ed way o wo king.
10. Ci izen pa icipa ion needs o achie e demons able ou comes ha mo i a e all
s akeholde s o main ain hei commi men o pa icipa ion.
Mos o he s uc u es ha ha e been pu in place in I eland a e oo ecen o be able o ully
e alua e hei impac . Many o he inno a i e ini ia i es ha e been o a empo a y pilo na u e and
ha e no been subjec o ull e alua ion o ei he me hodology o ou comes. E en whe e he p ocess
is clea ly o alue he ini ia i e canno make a las ing con ibu ion o enhancing pa icipa ion unless a
decision is made o mains eam and o p o ide on-going unding. Moni o ing and e alua ion o bo h
local de elopmen ini ia i es and local go e nmen s uc u es is equi ed o ensu e ha he
pa icipa i e p ocess is inclusi e and ha he ou comes will make a di e ence.
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Case s udy sou ces include
A Re iew o Ru al Resou ce De elopmen L d. And LEADER II in Cla e 1999
Ban y Bay Coas al Zone Cha e , Ban y Bay Cha e LIFE p ojec , 2000
Web: hh p://www.ucc.ie/ucc/ esea ch/c c/li e.h ml
Co k En i onmen al Fo um Web: h p://www.co ken i o o um.com
Re e ences
A ea De elopmen Managemen L d.(ADM) , 1996, Local De elopmen S a egies o Disad an aged A eas:
E alua ion o he Global G an in I eland (1992-1995) A Repo p epa ed by T u z Haase, Kie an
McKeown and S ephen Rou ke, Febu a y, 1996.
Ce nea, M.M, 1985. Sociological Knowledge o De elopmen P ojec s, in Pu ing People Fi s :
Sociological Va iables in Ru al De elopmen . Ox o d Uni e si y P ess.
Collins, T. 1988. Communi y En e p ise: Pa icipa ion in Local De elopmen . Unpublished Phd Thesis, S .
Pa ick’s College, Maynoo h.
Depa men o En i onmen , 1997, Be e Local Go e nmen , Dublin.
Depa men o En i onmen & Local Go e nmen , 1998, Repo o In e depa men al Task Fo ce on he
in eg a ion o Local Go e nmen and Local De elopmen Sys ems, Dublin.
Depa men o En i onmen & Local Go e nmen , 1999, P epa ing he G ound: Guidelines o he P og ess
om S a egy G oups o Coun y/Ci y De elopmen Boa ds, Dublin.
Gallaghe Pa , 2000, The Coun y De elopmen S a egy and he Coun y De elopmen Plan: The ole o he new
Coun y De elopmen Boa ds, pape deli e ed o IPI Annual Con e ence, May 2000, Wes po , Co. Mayo.
OECD, 1994, De elopmen Assis ance Commi ee Repo on De elopmen Co-Ope a ion. OECD, Pa is.
Pla , I ene, 1996. Re iew o Pa icipa o y moni o ing and E alua ion, Repo p epa ed o Conce n
Wo ldwide, Augus .
P e y, Jules, 1995, Pa icipa o y Lea ning o Sus ainable Ag icul u e in Wo ld De elopmen , Vol.23,
No.8.
Reynolds, B igid, and Sean Healy, (Eds), 1993, Powe , Pa icipa ion and Exclusion, Con e ence o Majo
Religious Supe io s (CMRS), Dublin
Reynolds, B igid, and Sean Healy, (Eds), 2000, Pa icipa ion and Democ acy, Oppo uni ies and Challenges,
Con e ence o Majo Religious Supe io s (CMRS), Dublin
Thompson, John, 1995. Pa icipa o y App oaches in Go e nmen Bu eauc acies: Facili a ing a
P ocess o Ins i u ional Change, in Wo ld De elopmen . Vol. 23, No. 9. pp 1521-1547.
Uni ed Na ions De elopmen P og amme(UNDP) Annual Human De elopmen Repo . Ox o d and
New Yo k: OUP.
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