- The video highlights the importance of inclusive consultation and engagement at a local level.
- Supports local decision-makers to ensure that the voices of marginalised and disadvantaged communities are heard
- Complements the previously published ‘Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making.’
Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities Joe O’Brien, TD, officially launched a new video today (Tuesday, November 5th, 2024) to support local decision-makers and ensure that disadvantaged communities have real opportunities to be heard in local planning and decision-making processes.
The video features a wide range of stakeholders who highlight the importance of engagement at the local level, ensuring that the most marginalised are involved with developing policy or future decisions that affect their communities.
The video complements the previously published ‘Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making’, which was co-produced by the Department of Rural and Community Development with Pobal, Community Work Ireland (CWI) and the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), and supported by the Dormant Accounts Fund, which my Department manages.
The guide provides organisations with a range of materials to assist them in implementing key principles and processes associated with inclusive engagement.
Speaking today, Minister Joe O’Brien said:
“I am pleased to see the production of this new resource, which demonstrates how the ‘Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making’ can be best utilised. Encouraging and fostering public participation is vital for decision-making and future policy development. This new tool can be used as a reference when organisations prepare and plan to consult with marginalised communities and the groups representing them. The Guide and supporting resources build on Ireland’s commitment to the Sustainable Development principle of ‘Leave no one behind’.”
CEO of Pobal, Anna Shakespeare, also welcomed the launch of the video and explained:
“This new, engaging resource includes practical advice, local examples and inputs from community representatives and other stakeholders, demonstrating the importance of inclusive community engagement. It highlights the outcomes that can be achieved when the right processes are implemented. I want to thank all the individuals and organisations involved in the production of the video and for sharing their experiences and learnings, which will help and support others as they commence their projects.”
Anastasia Crickley, Community Work Ireland (CWI) also emphasised the importance of the new tool:
“This video provides a useful and complementary tool to the Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making. CWI welcomes the clear message that conditions must be created and resourced for communities with lived experiences to give meaningful input into the local and national policies and decisions that affect their lives. This input, which will bring better outcomes for all stakeholders, has to go beyond consultation to involvement in designing and implementing policies and plans which affect particular marginalised and minority communities.”
This initiative is part of a more comprehensive Dormant Accounts Funded project on the engagement of marginalised communities. It is just one of a wide variety of actions delivered under Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the whole of Government Strategy to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024.
The video can be viewed online here.
