LDCN
The Local Development Companies Network (LDCN) is a company limited by guarantee, and is the umbrella body for local development companies (LDCs) in Ireland. A member-led network, LDCN works to ensure that the LDCs can support each other, and their respective communities, through collaboration, co-operation, sharing of information and agreed policy positions.
Why is a Network necessary?
Each local development company is established to support its local community, working with the people living there, and the other agencies operating there, to identify solutions to the problems the community identifies. But many problems are not caused locally, and will not be solved locally. These systemic problems will often have a national root, very often relating to a policy lacuna or anomaly, and so in working together as a Network, a local development company, concerned for its community, can amplify these concerns on to a national stage. LDCN then takes that message and ensures that it is evidence-based, before progressing through the various channels in which LDCN acts.
How does it work?
The Network has a series of sub-committees and fora that allows it to tease out issues, to work through challenges and to build on opportunities that arise. From front-line staff who meet through role-specific Communities of Practice, to sub-committees who focus on our research or impact agenda, all the way up to National Council, where our Member Chairs and CEOs come together to make strategic decisions for the Network, we are constantly operating with an ear to the ground, gathering up the vast extent of rich experience and expertise of the 3000 staff that are employed across this sector.
LDCN operates in a highly transparent manner – all information is shared across the entire membership, each Member plays their part in developing the sector, and we build on the shared experience we collectively bring to the table.
How is it funded?
LDCN Staff
There is a small professional staff team at the core of LDCN, working with and for our Members. They bring a wide range of skill to the sector, and are central in advancing the Members’ goals.
Máirín Ó Cuireáin
Chief Executive Officer
Philip O’Donnell
Research, Policy & Rural Affairs
Michelle Mullally
Programme, Impact & Communications
Conall Greaney
Finance & Administration
Catherine Lane
Community Connection Project Co-ordinator
Hussain Bakhshi
Community Connection Project Administrator
Working in partnership with LDCN
LDCN represents the local development sector on in excess of 40 national structures. For these various committees and steering groups, having LDCN on board brings certain assurances:
The LDCN representative is informed – through internal systems, linking all the way to frontline staff experience in our communities
The LDCN representative is accountable – all of our reps feed back to the broader membership so the communication is two-way
LDCN operates a keen policy agenda, seeking out opportunities to contribute to policy development, whether through responding to calls for submissions, or proactively highlighting issues we ourselves identify. Every submission or paper produced by LDCN is grounded in experience and evidence: we pride ourselves on high quality evidence-based work, which inform our positions, and are agreed by our Members.
