Strengthening partnership and community working is a key priority of the HSE Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan (2023-2027) which involves working with Local Authorities, and all members of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), in relation to health and wellbeing. The Department of Rural and Community Development held a LCDC Networking Event on the 9th October 2024 in Athlone with over 150 members of LCDCs, including HSE LCDC Representatives, in attendance.
A series of presentations were made which provided updates in relation to LCDCs including the drafting of new guidelines to reflect changes and learnings over the past 8 years; the development of an awareness and communication plan in relation to LCDCs for both the public and for Government Departments and agencies; and monitoring and evaluation of Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs), which are the plans of the LCDCs. Both the Healthy Ireland Local Government Programme and Creative Ireland Programme provided an update on the work being progressed locally.
There were also updates on investment in local resources in relation to integration and community safety projects. These include the Community Connection Project with €3m funding over an 18 month period during 2024 and 2025 to recruit 30 Community Link Workers and Local Area Integration Teams (LAITs) with four permanent roles in each non-city Local Authorities (n=28). Community Safety Partnerships are being established in each Local Authority with three new roles to prioritise issues identified by the community as safety concerns; improve multi-agency collaboration in the area; and increase community confidence in service providers.
The HSE Healthy Ireland Office continues to support the HSE LCDC Representatives who have a key role in terms of partnership and community working in their respective LCDCs to identify opportunities and contribute to decisions that impact the health and wellbeing of communities. For further information contact [email protected]