Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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In August 2019, the Department of Rural and Community Development launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The Strategy set a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade. The high-level objectives and actions support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in public policy and decision-making at all levels.

The strategy was co-produced by Government and representatives from the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors. This was facilitated through a cross sectoral group (CSG) that oversaw the strategy design process and continues to oversee and monitor its implementation. The CSG also sets priorities in agreeing the annual work plan under the Strategy.

A workshop was held with the CSG in September 2023 to review the implementation of the strategy to date and to identify any emerging needs and priorities for the next year. Whilst COVID-19 and the response to the Ukraine crisis had an impact on the implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities and some actions have not progressed as significantly as was originally envisaged, my Department is committed to the full implementation of the strategy, working alongside all of our stakeholders.

A further workshop with the Cross Sectoral Group has been scheduled for mid-2024 to discuss the possible next steps, post 2024. My Department will examine all possibilities, jointly with our partners in the Community & Voluntary sector, through the CSG.