Local Economic and Community Plans LECP | Guidelines 2021
Socio-economic Context The Local Economic and Community Plan is part of the overall process for national transformation set out in Project Ireland 2040 and which includes the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP). The global pandemic and the measures used to control the spread of COVID-19 have affected all aspects of Irish society and will provide significant context for the next round of LECPs from both a social and economic perspective. The Central Statistics Office has been conducting ongoing research and analysis of the social impact of COVID 19 since the onset of the pandemic and the results of the February 2021 research has indicated that that overall life satisfaction score at 5.8 was the lowest since this indicator of wellbeing was first used in 2013. 2 . Almost 6 in 10 (57.8%) reported that their mental health/well-being has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic with a significantly higher proportion of those in the 18-34 age group indicating a negative impact. From an economic perspective, Ireland has moved from being one of the fastest growing economies in Europe with near full employment to a point where an unemployment rate of 22.4% was registered in April 2021. 3 The three Regional Assemblies recently published a COVID 19 Regional Economic Analysis to identify which geographical areas in Ireland are more likely to be exposed to economic disruption because of the measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID 19 4 . The analysis uses a commercial dataset and a COVID 19 exposure ratio that looks at the ratio of commercial units operating in the sectors most likely to be affected as a proportion of overall commercial stock (taken from 2019). The process then assigns a value that assesses the likelihood of exposure to significant economic disruption on regions, counties and cities of Ireland.
The Northern and Western region is determined to have the most exposure followed by the Southern Region and the Eastern and Midlands Region. The data is designed to ensure that “ policy makers at local, regional and national level are aware of the most economically impacted areas across Ireland and will therefore be better equipped to ensure supports for industry can reach these businesses”. Climate Change/Action The need to address the current climate crisis is one of the defining contexts to be addressed at all levels of government in Ireland. The process to develop a statutory basis for Climate Change intervention including the new Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the ongoing implementation of Climate Action Plans is the national framework within which Government is supporting action now to adapt to the worst effects of climate change and secure a safer future for generations to come. This process will establish a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments set in law and ensure the necessary structures and processes are created on a statutory basis to ensure Ireland achieves its national, EU and international climate goals and complies with its obligations in the near and long term. The LECP is a key framework through which climate action interventions can be delivered at this level. The proposals in the Climate Action Bill support a number of work areas that will require consideration as part of the LECP process once it has been enacted. This Bill also supports the development of the national Climate Action Plan, where specific actions for each sector will be defined on an on-going basis. The National Dialogue on Climate Actions (NDCA), which will be launched later in 2021, will create an enduring process of widespread engagement and activation on climate change across all of society in support of the national, regional and local transition objectives and the coordination of climate action. Consideration of the role of the LECP in supporting the delivery of actions in Local and National Climate Action Plan should form part of the LECP with specific actions included in LECP Implementation Plans as appropriate.
2 Central Statistics Office, https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-sic19wbg/socialimpactofcovid-19surveyfebruary2021well-being/ resultsandanalysis/ 3 Central Statistics Office: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/mue/monthlyunemploymentapril2021/ 4 COVID 19 Regional Economic Analysis, https://www.southernassembly.ie/uploads/general-files/CV19-Regional-Economic-Analysis.pdf
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