considered and the SEA screening process has been concluded and an SEA Determination that the Cork LECP does not require full SEA has been made.
1.2
Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP)
The development of an LECP is informed by the overall vision for Local Government as set out in Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government (2012), the need “to promote the well- being and quality of life of citizens and communities”. The LECP Guidelines (2021) form part of the statutory responsibilities assigned to the Minister for Rural and Community Development (DRCD), under the Local Government Reform Act of 2014, to support the development and implementation of the LECP. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is charged with oversight of the economic elements of the LECP.
The LECP Guidelines (2021) state the plan preparation process should consist of two parts including;
a) the development of an overall LECP framework detailing the High-Level Goals and Sustainable Community and Economic Objectives as well as consideration of outcomes and high-level indicators for the 6-year LECP period. Consideration of any potential actions should form part of the development of the High-Level Goals and Objectives in the LECP framework but the detailing of prioritised actions as well as specific performance indicators and commitment to their implementation is a function of the implementation plan. b) The development of Implementation Plans to detail the inputs, actions and resources required for that implementation plan period as well as relevant specific key performance indictors to facilitate evaluation. The LECP is an important plan to support the implementation at local level of National and Regional policies. Objectives and actions in the LECP must a line with National policy priorities so they contribute locally to important policy agendas. National, Regional, and local plans must also a line with over-arching International and EU policy frameworks. Appendix 6 of the LECP Guidelines (2021) lists relevant policies and strategies to inform the development of the LECP. There are four phases to the preparation of the Plan. These are presented below in Table 1 and show how the SEA relates to the Plan preparation stages.
Table 1 Stages in LECP and SEA
Local Economic Community Development Plan Process
SEA/Environmental Inputs
Stage 1: Preparation
a) Establish & analyse the socio-economic evidence base b) Review of relevant high-level strategies and plans. c) Develop a socio-economic statement for Cork City Plan areas and develop high level goals for the integrated LECP d) Advisory steering group to prepare, and to adopt the statement for public consultation.
• Screening of the SEA Goals and Objectives
Stage 2: Public Consultation
a) Undertake a public consultation on the socio-economic statement & high-level goals
• Review consultation feedback from specified environmental authorities.
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