51. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the way in which local community development committees can contribute to more effective local decision-making and community-led development; the objectives of the new national campaign to increase public awareness of their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53295/26]

My Department has strategic responsibility for the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). Established under the Local Government (Reform) Act 2014, LCDCs are important structures at local level with statutory responsibilities that include supporting the engagement of community and voluntary organisations in local decision-making, and acting as a collaborative bridge between local authorities, state agencies and local communities.  Each LCDC prepares a six year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), which ensures that public funding and local initiatives align directly with the agreed strategic objectives of the plan and meet the identified needs of communities served.

In December 2024, my Department engaged a marketing consultant to improve the awareness and understanding of the LCDCs through clear messaging, together with the use of specially developed communication assets. The work of the consultant was overseen by a working group led by my department, which also included representatives of relevant stakeholders such as state bodies, the LGMA and CCMA, PPNs and other government departments.

On May 1st last, I was delighted to launch the new national awareness campaign to highlight how LCDCs connect public bodies and communities across Ireland. The overall objective of the campaign was to raise public awareness on the role and function of the LCDCs and how they contribute to the development of local communities, through economic and community actions contained in each of the Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs).

The campaign entitled - “Our LCDCs - Building better communities together - le chéile” – ran for a period of three weeks across local and regional radio, podcasts, and online media. The project also included a comprehensive training element that was delivered nationally to LCDC members and staff, including briefing sessions for local authority communications staff to ensure impact across all 33 LCDCs.  A total of 6 on-line training videos were also designed and are freely available on a new dedicated website, www.gov.ie.lcdc. These video assets will prove beneficial in terms of continued messaging on the role of the LCDCs and are also to be used in the induction for new LCDC members and staff.

In addition, each LCDC is to develop an annual LCDC strategic communications plan, together with initiatives that will enhance engagement with community and voluntary organisations, such as the publication of “hero stories” in the LCDC annual reports, and the development and promotion of LCDC videos and podcasts on local authority websites.  This resource will also benefit community and voluntary organisations, and the Public Participation Networks (PPNs).

Finally, to ensure the sustained viability and ongoing momentum of the campaign, and as part of the annual LCDC Networking event, my Department will be arranging a further capacity building event for LCDC Chief Officers, staff and committee members. This interactive session will invite proposals from LCDC attendees as to how to keep the awareness campaign energised at a local level.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important campaign and I would encourage all public representatives to promote the new LCDC website in their engagements with local community and voluntary groups.