Mayo County Council Local Community Development Committee – LCDC
The Mayo LCDC was established in 2014 for the purposes of developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development. The committee is made up of representatives from the Local Government and Local Development sectors, public bodies and representatives of social, economic, environmental and community interests. The LCDC is a sub-committee of the local authority but is independent in the discharge of its functions under the Local Government Act 2014.
In 2016 the Mayo LCDC launched its six- year local community plan LCEP which includes measures to tackle poverty and disadvantage, support enterprise, employment and training, develop community infrastructure and promote economic development.
The LCDC is also responsible for the strategic coordination, governance, planning and oversight of Local Development expenditure by Local Authorities on behalf of the state or by other Local Development agencies and structures for example the LEADER Programme and SICAP Programmes.
The PPN has 5 seats on the LCDC: 2 Social Inclusion reps, 2 Community & Voluntary reps, 1 Environmental rep
What is the role of your PPN representative?
- To represent the experience of the community, social inclusion and/or environmental issues in the county.
- To identify issues of collective concern to the sectors your rep represents.
- Ensure the wider PPN community are aware of policy or programmes at LCDC level that may impact on sectors.
- To provide feedback from meetings.
Mayo Local Community Development Committee
PPN Representatives – LCDC
Bernard Joyce
Environment Seat
Involved in Mayo Cool Planet, Castlebar Grow Remote Founder, Communications Officer Mayo Foróige, GAA
Professional: Heritage in schools Specialist, Founder of Nature School, owner New Paradigms Consulting. Native woodland owner.
Honours Degree in Rural Development, Digital Design, Technology and Innovation.
Honours in Management for Sustainable Development with Dissertation on the Role of LECPS in Climate Change Adaptation
Austin Francis O’Malley
Social Inclusion Seat
Chairperson Louisburgh Mens Shed,
Chairperson of Lousiburgh/Kileen I.FA
Chairperson of Development Company
Kileen Group Water Scheme
Former chair of Mayo County Council
Former chair of LTACC
Former chair of Louisburgh Community Futures
Former chair of water monitoring of County Mayo
Mary Jackson
Social Inclusion Seat
Mary is the Project Coordinator of Tacú Family Resource Centre which supports Individuals, Families and community groups in Ballinrobe and throughout the Lake District of South Mayo. Tacú also has a county brief as two of our Project’s cover the County ie The Community Based Family Support Project in Mayo and the Drug and Alcohol Family Support Project where I manage the County Team leader and the Drug and Alcohol Family Support worker. “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” is a quote from Desmond Tutu and my AGENDA is that the voice of those that are oppressed are heard. She is committed to ensuring that she will engaged extensively with people who are socially excluded to ensure that she represent their needs. She feels she has a balanced understanding between National Policy and the needs on the ground.
Siobhan Gough
Community & Voluntary Seat
I have been involved with the local Crossmolina community for over 8 years. Served as Chairperson of the Crossmolina Community Council, I am currently involved with the Cemetery Committee and Nephins Haven; I was previously appointed to the PPN Secretariat and I am currently CSP Manager for the Crossmolina Area.
Billy Freeley
Community & Voluntary Seat
30 years’ experience community voluntary work in Irishtown.
Chairperson of Irishtown community development. Been involved in various community projects – Local History and Heritage, Foróige, Church, Board of Management of local schools, developing facilities like – walkway, playground, social housing.
Mayo County Council Joint Policing Committees (JPC)
1 representative from each of the Municipal Districts and 2 representatives from the PPN Social Inclusion Pillar.
A Joint Policing Committee (JPC) is a body established under the Garda Siochana Act 2005 to serve as a forum where local authority representatives, Oireachtas members and community and voluntary interests, together with senior Garda Officers responsible for the policing of the area, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. Through the work of the JPC all parties can contribute to the improved safety and quality of life of the community.
The PPN have 6 representatives on the Joint Policing Committee.
The functions of the JPC include keeping under review:
The levels and patterns of crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour in the area (including the patterns levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs) and the factors underlying and contributing to the levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour of the area.
Advising the local authority concerned and the Garda Síochána on how they might best perform their functions having regard to the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the area.
What matters can be considered by the JPC?
Any matter relating to a function of the JPC can be discussed including issues such as:
Illegal drugs, anti-social behaviour, underage drinking, drinking in public places, safer neighbourhoods, public order and vandalism, CCTV, Community based crime prevention initiatives, planning of major events attracting large crowds, traffic management, casual trading, litter, road safety, estate management.
Community Issues:
To fully represent its members, it is important for the PPN representatives to be aware of emerging issues facing communities in Mayo.
Please take this opportunity to let us know the issues that you feel are of collective community concern in the county.
What you tell us will help inform future planning and policy development and will allow us to work with neighbouring counties to build up a bigger picture of the community and voluntary sector in County Mayo.
Louise Glynn
Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District Rep
PRO for the Ballinrobe Neighbourhood Watch Group and Administrator of the facebook page Ballinrobe Neighbourhood Watch. Louise is a passionate advocate for local community development, safety and wellbeing. Louise has worked with Womens Aid Dundalk, TACU Family Resource Centre and a voluntary member of Community Response to Domestic Violence. She was a Voluntary Board of Management for TACU Family Resource Centre and a Voluntary Director on the Family Resource Centre National Forum. Louise currently works as a Community Support Worker with Cope Galway Senior Support Services and Cope’s Homeless services. Her qualifications are an LLM in Human Rights Law, from Queens University Belfast, Postgraduate Diploma in International Development from Kimmage/Maynooth and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from University of Galway.
Edith Geraghty
Social Inclusion Rep for the Travelling Community
Mayo Travellers Support Group works with travellers around their accommodation needs. They need to be represented on this SPC.
Danial Kabongo
Social Inclusion Rep for the Migrant Community
Passion and ability to be the voice of the voiceless is what always drives me. However, my positive attitude towards life is a key point. Some of the activities that I have being involved in are intercultural awareness, organised workshops with an aim of getting migrants to understand the power of integration and voicing up for migrants in different workshops around the country.
Seamus Smyth
Ballina Municipal District Rep
Chairperson of Black Rock Court Residents Assoc. Believe safety, quality of life and security are paramount in the community. We have set up our Local Neighbour Hood Watch Assoc. Fundraised and sourced a defibrillator for estate and neighbours. Sit on the parish council. Experience with traffic management and planning major events regarding crowd safety. Aware of safety concerns in my community. Founding member of Mens shed Ballina, manage under-age GAA – local and county level, chairperson of Croí, Ballina
Strategic Policy Committees (SPC’s)
There are six Strategic Policy Committees (SPC) in Mayo County Council and it is the task of these committees to advise and assist the council in its work. Mayo PPN has representation on five of the six Strategic Policy Committees.
The SPC system is intended to give councillors and sectoral interests an opportunity for full involvement in the policy-making process of the work of the local authority from the early stages. When the SPC system operates satisfactorily, much of the preliminary and background work, discussion and recommendation should be completed at SPC level for final consideration and ratification by the council at the monthly council meetings.
Mayo PPN currently has 7 seats across five of the six Strategic Policy Committees for community representation.
- 3 Social Inclusion reps
- 1 Community & Voluntary rep
- 3 Environmental reps.
Community Issues
To fully represent its members, it is important for the PPN reps to be aware of emerging issues facing communities in Mayo.
Please take this opportunity to let us know the issues that you feel are of collective community concern in the county.
What you tell us will help inform future planning and policy development and will allow us to work with neighbouring counties to build up a bigger picture of the community and voluntary sector in County Mayo.
SPC 1 - Housing SPC
Edith Gerraghty
Social Inclusion Rep
Mayo Travellers Support Group works with travellers around their accommodation needs. They need to be represented on this SPC.
Leanne Barrett
Social Inclusion Rep
Currently Project Co-ordinator with Westport Family Resource Centre. In this role I work with and support individuals and families who are struggling with housing issues, at risk of homelessness, and those experiencing homelessness. I have a knowledge of and an interest in this particular area.
SPC 2 – Corporate, Education, Culture, Heritage & Library Services SPC
Austin Francis O’Malley
Social Inclusion Seat
Chairperson Louisburgh Mens Shed,
Chairperson of Lousiburgh/Kileen I.FA
Chairperson of Development Company
Kileen Group Water Scheme
Former chair of Mayo County Council
Former chair of LTACC
Former chair of Louisburgh Community Futures
Former chair of water monitoring of County Mayo
SPC 3 - Environment, Climate Action, Agriculture & Emergency Services SPC
Sinead Moran
Environment Rep
Famer co-managing a mixed herd of cows on 27 acres of High Nature Farmland.
Trinity College Dublin Natural Science Graduate
Masters from NUI Galway in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Professional experience in the environmental and development NGO sector
Core group member of Talamh Beo, farmers alliance group
Co-founder of Foodture- Irish social enterprise whose mission is to nurture a culture of food citizenship-engage with farmers to make better food choices
SPC 4 - Roads and Transportation SPC
FEENA KIRRKAMM Environment Rep
I am sustainability professional with a Masters in Sustainable Development that included three Transport Modules. I facilitate and am a member of a Successful Sustainable Energy Community Group focused on transport. I have a keen interest in all environment and social impacts related to roads and transportation.
SPC 5 – Tourism, Recreation, Food & Community Engagement SPC
Yvonne Finn
Environment Rep
Secretary of Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geo-Enterprise. Yvonne is also Chair of Coiste Pobail Thuar Mhic Éadaigh CFTR and has overseen the Community Recreational Park project 2013-2014. IN addition she has been responsible for a successful grant application for Woodlands Enhancement Project to redevelop Tourmakeady Woods by Coillte. Yvonne is a lecturer at NUI Galway and Vice-Dean for Internationalisation in the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at NUI Galway and holds an MD in health scienc.