Co. Wicklow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
Co. Wicklow Local Development Committee (LCDC)
The LCDC was set up in compliance with the Local Government Act 2014. It has a number of statutory functions which include:
- Co-ordinate, in a general way, local and community development activity within Co Wicklow for the purposes of reducing overlap, avoiding duplication and improving the targeting of resources.
- Prepare, implement and monitor the community elements of the six-year local economic and community plan (the plan). It must consider the economic elements of the plan in order to enhance co-ordination with the community elements and ultimately integrate the two elements, but it does not have a role in deciding on the economic elements.
- Co-ordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of local and community development programmes as part of implementing the plan. This includes the following:
- Be responsible for national funding programmes at local level. In 2015-2017 the implementation of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) will support local strategies for communities and individuals. It will identify and address social inclusions issues, promote access to life-long learning, employment and social enterprise.
- Facilitate the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (2015-2020) to support sustainable economic development projects for rural communities ranging from tourism, agri-food and other business activities.
- Any other funding streams that become available.
Our PPN Representatives
Jim Ruttle
Community & Voluntary College Representative to the LCDC
Hollywood Community Forum was founded in 2016 with Jim Ruttle as the first chairman.
Jim is a retired public representative serving the people of West Wicklow and county.
Married with two adult children, a farmer and former Dept of Agriculture official.
Jim has served on several county and local committees over the years; he has built up a broad understanding of local and county issues along with a high level of expertise to enable him to bring an informed, mature and understanding voice to the LCDC.
Patrick Mboci
Social Inclusion College Representative to the LCDC
Patrick is interested in social integration and economic welfare for all, and passionate about climate action. He is experienced in business development and information technology.
Frank Quaid
Social Inclusion College Representative to the LCDC
Frank has been a member of the PPN for a number of years and has represented the organisation as a director of Ring A Link the Local bus operators. He has also served on the Committee of the Wicklow Older Peoples Alliance and as a director of Active Retirement Network Ireland and worked on behalf of the local Baltinglass Community Forum of which he is currently Chairperson. He has attended the National Conventions of the Older Peoplesâ Council for the last number of years.
Jason Mulhall
Environmental College Representative to the LCDC
Jason has been volunteering and getting involved in the local community sector for the last 15 years and is a current member of the West Wicklow Environmental Network (WWEN), the Blessington and District Forum (Secretary), Blessington Tidy Towns (Chairperson), the Blessington Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Group and the Blessington Access Group (a partnership with DFI). In 2019 Jason was recognised nationally for his involvement in Tidy Towns when he was named Overall Winner of the National Tidy Towns Community Hero Award for Ireland. Jason has worked in the IT Sector since 1998 and currently lives in Blessington but originally hails from the village of Coolboy in South Wicklow.
Carina Holmes
Carina is an active member of Delgany Community Council (DCC) and Wicklow Planning Alliance (WPA) and has lived in the Greystones area for close to 18 years.   She is also an active member of the Public Participation Network (PPN) and sits on the PPN Secretariat.  Ciara has a good understanding and insight into the challenges faced by the community and voluntary sectors, which, compared with other EU countries, are in Ireland the backbone of the delivery of social and community services and voluntary facilities and sports amenities.  Carina believes these sectors need to be fully supported with enhanced financial supports and that her representation on the LCDC, which is a budgetary and financial committee, could help provide greater funding for the wonderful community and voluntary services, facilities and sports amenities throughout Wicklow.  Carina has also become increasingly involved in and concerned about the substantial and imminent threats to the natural and built environment, in particular, the detrimental impact that climate change is having on wildlife habitats, water resources, air quality, biodiversity and woodlands/forests, and the need to preserve and protect both the environment and built heritage – the great work done by tidy towns, community and marine groups needs to be fully recognised and supported. She am keen to contribute to the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) in Wicklow having worked for over 30 years as an economist on national economic, financial and fiscal policies in both the Central Bank of Ireland and H.M. Treasury in London.   It is Carina’s belief that the best policy results and actions are always achieved when the legitimate interests of all stakeholders, in particular, those in the community and in voluntary groups are incorporated and reflected in policies, actions and financial support. This inclusion and funding helps to build long-term trust and enables greater buy-in and respect among all stakeholders.  Â
