1. County Longford Local Economic and Community Plan
Economic Development & Enterprise SPC Meeting
29th September 2015

2. Legislation and Guidelines
The requirement for the development of a Local Economic and Community Plan is linked directly to the Government’s publication ‘Action Programme for Effective Local Government - Putting People First’ (2012), which has an overarching purpose ‘to promote the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities’.
Local Government Reform Act 2014 (Section 66 as amended);
Guidelines on Local Economic & Community Plans(AL1/2015);
Guidance Note on Local Economic & Community Plans (AL04/2015);
complementary to LDS, vetting by Regional Assemblies.
S.42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014);
statutory obligation to consider equality & human rights issues
Equality & Rights Alliance and LGMA recommend the preparation of an agreed equality and human rights statement.

3. LECP AIM
‘The purpose of the LECP, as provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is to set out, for a six-year period, the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of the relevant local authority area, both by itself directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders’. (DoEHLG, 2015)

4. The LECP is to contain the following:
Community development element (prepared and adopted by the LCDC).
Economic development element (prepared and adopted by the Economic SPC).
Integrated economic and community plan (to be adopted by Longford County Council).

5. Advisory Steering Group Community Stakeholders Economic Stakeholders
LECP INPUT
Regional Assembly
Municipal Districts
Advisory Steering Group
Community
Economic
LECP
LCDC
Economic SPC
Community Stakeholders
Economic Stakeholders
Public Consultation

6. Develop the Objectives and Actions
LECP PROCESS
Stage 1: Preparation
Stage 2:
Public Participation
Stage 3:
Develop the Objectives and Actions
Stage 4:
Finalise the Plan

7. Work to date - Consultation
 Emerging Themes:-
Job creation and business development .
Education, training and skills development.
Improvement and provision of services, infrastructure and utilities.
Need to capitalise on central location and good road networks.
Renewal and Regeneration.
Health, safety and well-being.
Tourism, culture, arts, leisure and heritage.
Inclusion and equality for key target groups.

8. Socio-Economic Baseline Study
Key Findings; e.g. Population, age, household formation, nationality, traveller population, housing, health/disability, education, employment, enterprise, crime, retail, broadband, agriculture; key settlements.
Comparative Indicators for Longford and the State;
SWOT Analysis;
Strength – Central location and good accessibility;
Weakness – Inter- regional employment brain drain;
Opportunity - Promote natural and cultural heritage;
Threat – High Crime Rate.

9. POLICY CONTEXT OF LECP EU 2020 EU Legislation
National Reform Programme 2015
All Relevant National Policy*
EU Legislation
National Development Plan
National Spatial Strategy / National Planning Framework
Regional Planning Guidelines / Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy
County Development Plan
Local Area Plans
LECP
High Level Goals
Objectives
Actions

10. EU 2020 Targets Employment; Ensure 75% employment of 20– 64-year-olds;
Research & Development / Innovation;
3% of the EU GDP to be invested in research and innovation;
Education;
Reduce school dropout rates to below 10%;
At least 40% of 30–34-year olds to complete third level education;
Poverty / Social Exclusion;
Ensure at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion;
Climate Change / Energy;
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%;
Provide 20% of our energy needs from renewables;
Increase our energy efficiency by 20% (all compared to 1990 levels);

11. National Reform Programme
Employment;
Raise to 69-71% the employment rate for those aged 20-64, including through greater participation of young people, older workers and low-skilled workers, and better integration of legal migrants.
Research and Development:
Raise combined public and private investment levels in this sector to 2.5% of GNP.
Education:
Reduce the percentage of year olds with at most lower secondary education and not in further education and training to 8%;
Increase share of years olds completing tertiary or equivalent education to at least 60%.
Poverty / Social Exclusion
Reduce the number experiencing consistent poverty to 2% or less;
Reduce by a minimum of 200,000 the population in combined poverty;
Climate Change:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the non-traded sector by 20% compared to 2005 levels;
Increase the share of renewables in final energy consumption to 16%;
Move towards a 20% increase in energy efficiency.

12. VISION
Taking account of the aforementioned the overall Vision of the Longford LECP is :-
‘To support and encourage economic growth and regeneration, and improve quality of life through collaborative and sustainable community and rural development, strengthening sense of place and providing equality of opportunity for all residents of County Longford’.

13. High Level Goals
This is to be supported by the following integrated High Level Goals:-
 To increase the level and quality of employment and income across all sectors of society;
To maximise economic activity, performance and pursue new growth opportunities;
To maximise the attractiveness of County Longford as a favourable place in which to live, visit, work and transact business;
To improve educational attainment levels and support pathways to economic participation and opportunity;
To reduce poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion and promote equality in the community;
To improve prosperity, health/well-being and quality of life of the community;
To improve the level and quality of community identity and solidarity, civic pride and participation;
To ensure protection and enhancement of the environment;
To utilise the natural, cultural & built environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

14. To ensure protection and enhancement of the environment
Vision
To increase the level and quality of employment and income across all sectors of society
To maximise economic activity, performance and pursue new growth opportunities
To maximise the attractiveness of County Longford as a favourable place in which to live, visit, work and transact business
To improve educational attainment levels and support pathways to economic participation and opportunity
To reduce poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion and promote equality in the community
To improve prosperity, health/well-being and quality of life of the community
To improve the level and quality of community identity and solidarity, civic pride and participation
To ensure protection and enhancement of the environment
To utilise the natural, cultural & built environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development

15. 4 Weeks Public Consultation Specific, time-bound & measurable actions
Next Steps
Integrated LECP
High Level Goals
4 Weeks Public Consultation
Economic Element
Specific Objectives
Specific, time-bound & measurable actions
Economic & Community Elements
Shared Objectives
Community Element

16. Example of Logic Model EU 2020 Priority Employment
69-71% of year olds to be employed (currently 64.1%)
LECP High Level Goal
Increased level and quality of employment and income across all sectors of society
Sustainable Community Objective*
To tackle under-representation of women in employment and entrepreneurship in areas A, B, and C
INPUTS
ACTIONS
OUTPUTS
OUTCOMES
IMPACTS
BODY
DATE

18. ‘the first LECPs should be completed by 31 December 2015’.
Timeline for the LECP
As per the DoEHLG Guidelines (Jan. 2015) it is stated that
‘the first LECPs should be completed by 31 December 2015’.

19. Monitoring and Review
The first iteration of the LECP will be reviewed when the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) are developed (expected in 2016).
The review will provide an opportunity to ensure consistency between the LECP and their respective RSESs and will also provide an opportunity to review, amend and re-prioritise LECP high level goals and specific objectives and actions, where this is considered appropriate.

20. Important Links Dedicated LECP Webpage on www.longfordcoco.ie
Dedicated address at
Any Questions????