• Updated guide has been launched to include resources to help local organisations to ensure that all voices are heard
• Training provided to local authorities and other local stakeholders on the guide
• The handy how-to reference guide on good engagement and consultation is to be followed by a series of videos

Minister of State, with responsibility for Community Development, Charities and Integration, Joe O’Brien TD, officially launched an updated, second version of ‘A Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making.’

The launch was held on Wednesday, the 25th of October, at an event showcasing the learnings from the project, which developed and tested strategies to ensure that marginalised and disadvantaged communities have real opportunities to be heard in local planning and decision-making processes.

Building on the original version of the guide, and using learnings from three pilot programmes and feedback gained from the process, the guide has been updated to include additional case studies and resources to support local authorities as well as any organisations engaged in planning and decision making at a local level.

Minister Joe O’Brien said:

“I am very pleased to be here today to launch this updated guide. My department, with Pobal, has worked with the Community and Voluntary Sector, to use the experience and feedback gained over the last number of months to develop this expanded guide which gives additional tools to local decision making bodies to ensure the voices of marginalised groups are heard and included in local planning and decision making.

“I’ve said this before and will continue to say it – the best decisions are those we make together, where all are given the opportunity to share their perspectives and I am delighted that the process is dynamic and flexible so that we can adapt and improve as we learn what works best.  

“I urge everyone here today to bring this guide back to their organisations, use it, champion it and embed it in your work.”

This guide builds on Ireland’s commitment to the Sustainable Development principle of ‘Leave no one behind’, and has been developed by the Department together with Pobal, Community Work Ireland, as well as members of the Irish Local Development Network and local government.

Training programmes on the guide as well as on inter-cultural awareness and the Public Sector Duty have already been rolled out this year.  Further training will be provided to local authority staff over the coming weeks on facilitation skills, as well as a series of videos to assist in bringing the principles of engagement to life.

This Dormant Accounts Funded project is part of the wider variety of actions being delivered under Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the whole of Government Strategy to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024.

‘A Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making [Second Edition]’ is available here on gov.ie.