Allan Shine, Chief Executive of North Kildare Chamber was recently appointed to represent business in Kildare on the new County Kildare Local Community Development Committee

The establishment of this new committee is in line with ‘A Guide to Putting People First: Action Plan for Effective Local Government’which is committed to reviewing the delivery of services at local level, to ensure that public services are best delivered through locally based bodies that are responsive to  local needs and circumstances.

 One of the main reforms outlined in the ‘Action Plan’ is the establishment of new Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each county/city, to have oversight and responsibility for local development and community-related funding in their area.

County Kildare Local Community Development Committee  comprises of  17 members . There is wide representation on the committee from the local government sector, state agencies, local and community development, and social, economic and community interests.

The LCDC will have a key function of achieving a more strategic, joined-up approach to local and community development within Kildare.   The LCDC will develop a County Local and Community Plan, to encompass State-funded local and community development interventions.

 The intention is to have the maximum level of publicly-funded programmes under the oversight of LCDCs. The County Local Economic and Community Plan will therefore set out 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.

The Chamber will update its members on this committee on a regular basis.