Local development facing major threat

For 50 local development companies (LDCs), which supported more than 1,644 enterprises in the past year, and which work with thousands of people in community schemes, there will be far-reaching consequences in the Government’s handing over of the overall responsibility and accountability to local government.

“We are not against change if it will improve the lives of people in the communities,” said Ryan Howard, CEO of South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) speaking recently on behalf of LDCs in Cos Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

“We need good development support separately at local, county and national levels, and promoting better alignment between each level makes perfect sense. However, what is now being suggested by the Government’s ‘alignment’ policy is removal of core EU funding from LDCs, which will annihilate a successful community-led local development model for investing public funds, one of the best in Europe. This is not alignment but integration of the local model into the county council-based approach, and removes a development option for local people.”