 It seems no length of time since I was here in Monaghan for the Volunteer in the Community Awards at the Iontas Centre and before that in 2006 to officially open the Volunteer Centre. I am well aware of the outstanding work carried out and the effort of so many people here in County Monaghan to make their community a more inclusive, supportive and welcoming place, a place where everyone is made to feel welcome and valued. When I read the letter from Ursula about the training and information events that have been occurring and the desirability and enthusiasm of the Forum to give each community group a voice at the decision making table; it really made me think that is one of the reasons why County Monaghan stands out as an example of a county where true collaboration and integration exists between local Government and the community. The one thing you have not lost sight of here in County Monaghan is how local people in our communities, be they elected representatives or not, are the catalyst for change. Our Nation’s strength is our people and our spirit. In my role as Chairperson of the Taskforce of Active Citizenship I have heard so many inspiring stories of individuals and organisations contributing to the well being of their communities. Despite pressures of time, work and family commitments I found an overwhelming willingness by people from all sectors of society to participate in the issues that affect them on a local and national level. There is a great deal of untapped potential. There are opportunities to improve the quality of life in Ireland through more, and better quality engagement by us all in shaping what happens in our neighbourhoods, communities and society as a whole. As a nation we are famous for our warmth and generosity, it is time to recapture that spirit and this needs to happen at community level. This is the time when community mobilisation needs to be engaged and harnessed to provide support and opportunity for citizens right across the State. New and innovative ways to build social and economic entrepreneurship need to be fostered so that we can meet the challenges of the economic downturn and take advantage of it. In changing times we need to constantly ask how can local authorities, the local business community and central Government foster, promote and invest in Active Citizenship – the marrow in the bone of society. It is fantastic to see a mechanism at a local level that provides a framework for citizens so that they can play a more interactive role in the community they live in. Active Citizenship can take many forms. It can mean caring for a family member or looking out for a neighbour. It can take the form of joining a residents’ association, or lobby group. It can mean helping out in a local sports club or a community development project. It can mean taking an active interest in local, national and international issues. It can mean helping to keep a town tidy. It can mean making an effort to recycle. There is no shortage of ways of making a difference, for the better. Ultimately active citizenship is about being aware of your neighbourhood, community and country, identifying problems and, critically, seeking to become part of the solution and change things for the better. What I heard over and over again was that there was a lack of confidence in democratic and some other consultative structures, particularly at local level, with individuals and organisations feeling their voices are not being heard. We repeatedly heard that new housing developments are not taking account of the needs of people and communities for transport, common areas, open spaces and community facilities. Many people expressed the view that they did not feel respected or included in important decision-making that directly affects them in their communities. I also heard that excessive control and accountability has stifled voluntary initiative. For groups and individuals who fill the gaps and provide the inspiration, these groups in turn have a set of expectations of being dealt with fairly by Government bodies and when they are doing good work in their community, they expect to be met half way by such bodies. And these are people who are engaged, they are not the extremists or negative activists, they are part of the majority of people in Ireland who genuinely want to contribute and who turned out to the public consultations we held because they want to contribute and make a difference. The public have certain expectations of Government bodies. Where in your view, are the good people in your local authority located – are they at the interface with the public or tucked away in service of internal organisational needs? Locating certain types of people on front line services or at key conjunctions with communities devastates social capital. Also failure by public bodies to resource themselves to interact and encourage local groups seeking to better the lot of their communities is a failure to support active citizenship. People expect public servants to care and be interested in the well-being of their communities and respond appropriately. This does not mean saying yes, yes, yes all the time or signing cheques, but it does mean a disposition to listen, to endorse, to sensibly support and to advise. This is why I was so heartened when I read your mission statement: “Monaghan Community Forum puts the community at the heart of decision making in the county.” In my view it is essential to channel civic energy in tackling local needs. It seems to me that you tick all the boxes but I’m not sure every community does that and where this is not happening I would like to challenge. Local Government matters in Ireland hugely. Councillors should be empowered rather than contained. In terms of planning, community development, provision of accessible recreational, cultural and sporting opportunities local Government is very often the first point of call. Yet Public Policy Specialist Dr. Mark Callanan of the IPA in his report Local Government of Ireland noted – “local government in Ireland has rarely been accorded a status commensurate with its democratic mandate or been accepted fully as a valid partner in the process of government.” To overcome this I believe the answer is to strengthen responsible democratic leadership; to reinforce democratic accountability, and to build up the legitimacy of the local authority within the hearts and minds of the community. Local Government should be about expressing local priorities and having powers to make positive changes. There is a lot of talk about reform in this current economic climate and for me, personally, I would like to see a devolution of centralised functioning powers to local Government. Reform for me should improve local services; it should provide a better quality of representation and improve the range and efficiencies of local and national Government. The secret to this is an active, engaged, committed, well informed citizenry working within existing democratic structures and complementing those existing structures by forming new types of direct engagement at the local level. We need to re-think the ways in which we promote engagement by letting citizens and communities do it for themselves but with all the help and encouragement and material support they need from Government and other agencies. It strikes me that you provide for all this through the structures that you have created through the Community Forum. In providing those supports you are empowering and enabling groups and individuals to achieve their objectives in the community while at the same time acknowledging their presence and ensuring they feel valued and respected – Well done. |
Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:23