National campaign launched to raise awareness of Local Community Development Committees
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht | Campaign running from 1 May 2026 for three weeks
A new national campaign has been launched by the Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, to increase public awareness of the role of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across Ireland. The initiative aims to highlight how LCDCs act as a formal link between community groups, voluntary organisations and public bodies at local authority level.
There are 33 LCDCs nationwide, each operating within a local authority area. Their statutory role is to plan, coordinate and implement local and community development initiatives. This includes oversight and delivery of programmes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Healthy Cities initiative, the Empowering Communities Programme and the Local Enhancement Programme.
LCDCs are also responsible for progressing Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs), which set out six-year strategies for economic and community development within each local authority area. These plans identify local priorities and outline actions to support employment, social inclusion, community wellbeing and regional development.
The campaign, titled “Our LCDCs Building better communities together – le chéile”, is being delivered across radio, podcasts, print and online platforms. It is intended to improve public understanding of how LCDCs function and to encourage greater engagement from clubs, voluntary groups and individuals seeking to influence or access local services.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht holds statutory responsibility for the operation of LCDCs and the implementation of LECPs. The campaign has been developed in collaboration with the City and County Management Association (CCMA), LCDC representatives and other stakeholders, following a procurement process undertaken in late 2024.
How to engage
Community groups, organisations and individuals can engage with their local LCDC to access supports, contribute to local development priorities, or participate in programmes delivered at community level. Information on each LCDC, including contact details and local initiatives, is available through the Department’s dedicated portal at www.gov.ie/lcdc. Engagement typically takes place through local authority channels, public meetings, programme applications and consultation processes linked to LECP actions.
The Public Consultation Institute of Ireland (PCII) is committed to engaging citizens and empowering communities through the use of emerging technologies, which are transforming how the Government and citizens communicate and interact. PCII’s mission is to bring more people into the public participatory process. Not only will this expand informed public engagement, early studies suggest that it is likely to enhance the diversity and quality of participation. View a list of public consultations currently open at https://www.publicconsultation.ie/haveyoursay