Mr Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, invited expressions of interest from persons involved in stakeholder groups for a Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development, today (Wednesday, 20 November). The inclusion of such persons is listed as a key-action in ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024’.
Speaking today about the Strategy, Minister Ring said:
The original Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development achieved phenomenal work in creating this important document, agreeing also a commitment to their re-establishment, with a reviewed membership, to advance the objectives and monitor progress of the implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities. To ensure the broadest representation of voices on the Group, I am today inviting expressions of interest from persons involved in the stakeholder groups to participate in the new Cross-Sectoral Group.
Speaking about the strategy, Minister Ring continued:
The publication of this Strategy is the culmination of a number of years work by the Department of Rural and Community Development, supported by the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development. This work sets a general direction of travel for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sector for the coming years.
On August 28th 2019, Minister Michael Ring launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024.
For further information on the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development, please visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/8aa922-cross-sectoral-group-on-local-and-community-development-2019-2024/
Notes for editors:
Role of the Cross-Sectoral Group
The Cross-Sectoral Group will be a key vehicle to oversee implementation of the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities Strategy. The role will involve inputting to annual workplans, monitoring progress on implementation and advising on any changes that may be needed to existing actions. The Group comprise representation from relevant Government Departments, public bodies, and community and voluntary sector stakeholders, with two of these seats reserved for an open call for expressions of interest from practitioners or persons involved in supporting community and voluntary sector or local and community development, and an additional seat for an academic representative.
Diverse Representation
The Department is committed to ensuring the voice and experience of community and voluntary sector practitioners is strongly reflected in the composition of the Cross-Sectoral Group. The overall composition of the Cross-Sectoral Group reflects a balance of representation of public bodies and community and voluntary sector and local and community development stakeholders.
Minister Ring concluded
An objective is to ensure a good balance on the Group of both urban and rural stakeholder interests, with balanced gender representation. We are committed to diversity and representation of all voices. I really want to encourage members of traditionally marginalised communities to apply.
How to apply?
Expressions of Interest must be submitted using the appropriate application form via email to lcdev@drcd.gov.ie by close of business on Friday 29th November 2019. Application forms are available on www.gov.ie/drcd
Indicative Criteria
Applicants will be required to meet the following criteria:
- Actively working in the community and voluntary sector for a period of no less than 2 consecutive years;
- Thorough understanding of the community and voluntary sector - including the challenges, opportunities, historical context and emerging trends in the Irish context;
- Strong motivation to provide a meaningful contribution to the group and to advance the development of the community and voluntary sector, and to local and community development;
- Willingness to represent the interests of the breadth of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland and not any individual organisational positions and/or interests.
Membership of the Cross-Sectoral Group is entirely voluntary and unremunerated. However, reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the attendance at meetings by members whose expenses are not ordinarily refundable from any other source may have such reasonable expenses refunded by the Department of Rural and Community Development in accordance with public sector guidelines.
Composition of the Group
The Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development will comprise the following membership:
- Department of Rural and Community Development (Chair)
- Department of Health
- Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- County and City Management Association
- C&V Pillar nominee
- ILDN nominee
- CWI nominee
- Community & Voluntary Sector Stakeholder
- Community & Voluntary Sector Stakeholder
- Academic Representative
Role and Responsibilities of the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development
- The Cross-Sectoral Group is primarily advisory in nature. It will be chaired by the Department of Rural and Community Development which has responsibility for community development policy in Ireland.
- The role of the Group is to monitor the overall implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024; and, in particular, progress on the delivery of the individual Actions (i.e. commitments) set out in the Strategy.
- The Group will provide feedback, guidance and advice to the Department in relation to the implementation of the Strategy, as well as early warning regarding potential obstacles in delivery of the Strategy.
- The Group will advise and input into annual work plans to progress the actions. These work plans should include expected outcomes, the timeframes for delivery of actions, performance indicators, and an appropriate monitoring and review mechanism.
- The Group will also provide insights into developments, opportunities and emerging trends in the community and voluntary sector in Ireland and internationally (if appropriate).
- The Group will contribute to the mid-term review of the Strategy.
- The Cross-Sectoral Group may be invited by the Department of Rural and Community Development to lead on, or participate in, the delivery of some measures in the Strategy if appropriate. [In such cases, the Department will retain ultimate responsibility (including final editorial authority) for the output.]
- The Cross-Sectoral Group may establish sub-groups to support its work. Sub-groups may include members external to the Cross-Sectoral Group, but must include at least one member of the Group who will be responsible for reporting back to the Cross-Sectoral Group.
- Membership of the Cross Sectoral Group is voluntary and unremunerated.
- The role of members of the Cross-Sectoral Group is to represent the interests of the breadth of the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland and not any individual organisational positions and/or interests.
Frequency of Meetings
It is anticipated that the Implementation Group will meet twice per year, with the first meeting in Dublin on 10 December 2019. The Group will meet biannually thereafter. Any sub-groups which may be formed may determine the frequency of their own meetings.
Secretariat
Secretariat functions to the Implementation Group will be provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development.